John B McCormick

Military ROLL OF HONOUR
Personnel of the 389th Bomb Group stand atop the engine of a B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-40787) nicknamed "Vagabond King".  Sitting (left to right): Staff Sergeant David C Shattles, Staff Sergeant Louis H Raines, Corporal Alfred P Rossi. Standing (left to right)Second Lieutenant Masco, First Lieutenant Marvin Mendlesohn, First Lieutenant George A Brinton, Captain John B. McCormick, Staff Sergeant William J Budai, Staff Sergeant Richard W Weaver

'They have bombed ten different countries. Associated media-379085.jpg FRE 650 Personnel of the 389th Bomb Group stand atop the engine of a B-24D Liberator, serial number 42-40787, named, Vagabond King. Sitting ( left to right ) : Staff Sergeant David C. Shattles, Staff Sergeant Louis H. Raines, Corporal Alfred P. Rossi. Standing (left to right) : Second Lieutenant Masco, First Lieutenant Marvin Mendlesohn, First Lieutenant George A Brinton, Captain John B. McCormick, Staff Sergeant William J. Budai, Staff Sergeant Richard W. Weaver

"They have bombed ten different countries." Associated Press photo shows : "The crew of the Flying Fortress, Vagabond King, which has flown over 250,000 miles in combat and bombed targets in ten different countries, including the airfields at Ploesti, Romania. They are (left to right, sitting) : SSgt. David C. Shattles, of Atlanta, GA. Gunner - SSgt. Louis H. Raines, of Chesson, ALA, Gunner - Cpl. Alfred P. Rossi, of Philadelphia, PA, Gunner - (standing) : 2nd Lt. Masco, of Chicago, ILL, Bombardier - 1st Lt. Marvin Mendlesohn, of Rockaway, N.Y. Navigator - 1st Lt. George A. Brinton, of Salt Lake City, Utah, Co-Pilot - Capt. John B. McCormick, of Syracuse, N.Y. Pilot - SSgt. William J. Budai of Toledo, Ohio - and SSgt. Richard W. Weaver, of Scottdale, PENN." Roger Freeman Collection

Punctuation. - Kickapoo

Object Number - FRE 650 - Personnel of the 389th Bomb Group stand atop the engine of a B-24D Liberator, serial number 42-40787, named, Vagabond King. Sitting ( left to right...

Lt. John B. McCormick was the command pilot of the B-24D, named, Vagabond King, in the 8th Air Force, the 98th Bomb Group, and the 565th Bomb Squadron at Hethel, U.K. In May or June, of 1943, he and his B-24, Vagabond King, were temporarily detached to the 8th Air Force at Benghazi, Libya, for Operation Tidal Wave, to destroy the oil refineries at Ploesti, Romania. It's pilot, Lt. John McCormick found and successfully bombed his target, the Steaua Romano refinery at Campina, Romania, and returned to Nicosia, Cyprus with battle damage. RTB. 1 WIA. 1 Aug 1943.



On 18 November 1943, Lt. John McCormick was shot down by enemy fighters over Oslo, Norway, in his B-24D, 42-40787, Vagabond King. His plane crashed into the North Sea, killing Lt. McCormick and his entire crew. Lt. McCormick was Killed in Action (KIA). 18 Nov 1943.



Lost over Oslo, Norway. Shot down by FW-109 fighters or, possibly, by friendly fire. 18 Nov 1943. 10 MIA - KIA. - MACR 2885 - Pilot Lt. John B. McCormick - MACR 2885



Military Hall Of Honor - Distinguished Service Cross Report John B. McCormick

Captain, U.S. Army Air Forces



"On 18 November 1943, Captain John B. McCormick was serving as Pilot of a B-24D Liberator Bomber in the 565th Bombardment Squadron, 389th Bombardment Group (Heavy), Ninth Air Force (Attached), U.S. Army Air Forces."



"On that day, Capt. McCormick’s unit was in action against German forces on a mission to Oslo, Norway, in the European Theater of Operations. His B-24D Liberator Bomber (SN 42-40787) nicknamed, Vagabond King, was shot down by German FW-190 fighters and crashed in the North Sea. Capt. McCormick and his 10 man crew were killed in action. Capt. McCormick’s courageous actions and extraordinary heroism that day earned him, at the cost of his life, the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross."



As a First Lieutenant, McCormick was one of the Ploesti Raiders. He flew the, Vagabond King, on Operation Tidal Wave to Ploesti, Romania, on 1 August 1943. For that mission he was awarded the Silver Star and the Distinguished Flying Cross Medals.



Medals, Awards and Badges :



Distinguished Service Cross

Silver Star Medal Distinguished Flying Cross

Purple Heart

Air Medal - 1 Oak Leaf Cluster

American Campaign Medal

European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with 2 Bronze Stars

World War II Victory Medal

Army Air Force Pilot Badge



Distinguished Service Cross Citation (Synopsis)



Captain (Air Corps) John B. McCormick (ASN: 0-661952), United States Army Air Forces, was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a B-24 Heavy Bomber in the 565th Bombardment Squadron, 389th Bombardment Group (H), 9th Air Force (Attached), while participating in a bombing mission on 18 November 1943, against enemy targets over Oslo, Norway, in the European Theater of Operations. The personal courage and zealous devotion to duty displayed by Captain McCormick on this occasion, at the cost of his life, have upheld the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the 9th Air Force (Attached), and the United States Army Air Forces.



Memorialization -



The remains of Captain John B. McCormick have never been recovered. He is memorialized by having his name inscribed on the Tablets of the Missing at the Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial in Coton, South Cambridgeshire District, Cambridgeshire, England.







Pilot 1st.Lt John B. McCormick, MIA/KIA

Hometown: Dewitt NY

Squadron: 565th Bomb Squadron - 389th Bomb Group - 8th Air Force

Service # O-661952

Awards: Silver Star, Distinguished Service Cross, Air Medal with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart



Target: Oslo, Norway

Missing Air Crew Report Details

USAAF MACR#:

Date Lost: 9-May-44

Serial Number:42-40787

Aircraft Model B-24H-15-CF

Aircraft Letter: V

Aircraft Name: Vagabond King

Location: North Sea

Cause: FW-190's over the North Sea - 10 KIA

Notes: Apparently hit by friendly or enemy fire and was forced to ditch. His body was not recovered.



Capt. McCormick appears in the Ploesti raid roster and on the Missing Air Crew Report as 1st Lieutenant. However he is listed as Captain on the Cambridge wall of the missing. Captain McCormick may have been promoted posthumously.

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 389th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

Personnel of the 389th Bomb Group stand atop the engine of a B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-40787) nicknamed "Vagabond King".  Sitting (left to right): Staff Sergeant David C Shattles, Staff Sergeant Louis H Raines, Corporal Alfred P Rossi. Standing (left to right)Second Lieutenant Masco, First Lieutenant Marvin Mendlesohn, First Lieutenant George A Brinton, Captain John B. McCormick, Staff Sergeant William J Budai, Staff Sergeant Richard W Weaver

'They have bombed ten different countries. Associated
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 389th Bomb Group 565th Bomb Squadron 8th Air Force Finance
  • Service Numbers: 35337676
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 389th Bomb Group 565th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-674468
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Copilot
Personnel of the 389th Bomb Group stand atop the engine of a B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-40787) nicknamed "Vagabond King".  Sitting (left to right): Staff Sergeant David C Shattles, Staff Sergeant Louis H Raines, Corporal Alfred P Rossi. Standing (left to right)Second Lieutenant Masco, First Lieutenant Marvin Mendlesohn, First Lieutenant George A Brinton, Captain John B. McCormick, Staff Sergeant William J Budai, Staff Sergeant Richard W Weaver

'They have bombed ten different countries. Associated
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 389th Bomb Group 565th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 389th Bomb Group 565th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 389th Bomb Group 565th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 35166638
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: - Vagabond King
  • Unit: 389th Bomb Group 565th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Berka, al Birkah

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

War Experiences Related in Journals

Ploesti, Romania 1 August 1943 Concerning the Ploesti Mission: "The last bombs of Tidal Wave were deposited on the powerhouse and boiler of the Steaua Romana refinery by, Vagabond King, piloted by Lt. John B. McCormick. Toledoan William J. Budai was a waist gunner on this ship. The ship took multiple hits from the anti-aircraft guns over the target, but came through the smoke and flames, damaged but flying. Vagabond King, bombed it's target, amidst exploding kettles and the crumbling and crash of a high smokestack. McCormick thought, "From an esthetic point of view, the best thing were the incendiary rounds flickering up and down in the smoke like fireflies." Looking back, his tail gunner saw the 45 second delayed explosive bombs, exploding, and commented, 'They didn't give us much time for a getaway.' After dropping their bombs and assessing the damage, McCormick remarked that he wasn't sure whether the crew would make it back. "Our plane was shot up and in bad shape. We got into formation, low, at treetop level, with another wounded ship and three good ones that stayed to protect us, and got a heading to Nicosia, Cyprus'." Dan Masters wrote, "Dragged Through the Mouth of Hell: Toledo's Contribution to Operation Tidal Wave, August 1, 1943," Northwest Ohio History Journal, Vol. 84, No. 1 (October 6, 2016).

Died

Killed in action

Oslo Norway 18 November 1943 Shot down and killed in the B-24D , Vagabond King, with all crewmen, 10 KIA. 18 Nov 1943

Born

Syracuse, New York

Revisions

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ContributorKickapoo
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Added details. - Kickapoo

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ContributorKickapoo
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Details added. - Kickapoo

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ContributorKickapoo
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Spelling. - Kickapoo

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ContributorKickapoo
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ContributorKickapoo
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Added details. Removed punctuation from aircraft names for uniformity and clarity. - Kickapoo

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Contributorjmoore43
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Added some punctuation to the "Summary biography" to aid clarity.

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Contributordecwriter
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NARA files verified Silver Star for 1 August 1943 Ploesti low level mission and Air Medal with 1 oak leaf cluster. The lowest decoration received by any flier for the Ploesti raid was a DFC, but a member could not receive dual recognition for the same act. There is no DSC or DFC file for Capt McCormick on file with NARA, yet he shows as a recipient of the DSC on the WWII valor.defense.gov website. Without personnel files to confirm the decorations and general orders, his story will remain a mystery.

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ContributorDieterle
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The 389th flew out of Hethel after returning from Benghasi. Richard Dieterle

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ContributorKickapoo
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Find A Grave

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ContributorDieterle
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Following the list of crew members lost on the Vagabond King 18 Nov. 1943 at the 42-40787 Aircraft page.

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ContributorDieterle
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Richard Dieterle, adding more material from Dan Masters, "Dragged Through the Mouth of Hell: Toledo's Contribution to Operation Tidal Wave, August 1, 1943," Northwest Ohio History Journal, Vol. 84, No. 1 (October 6, 2016).

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ContributorDieterle
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Following results set out at the W Budai Person page, and the 42-40787 Aircraft page.

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ContributorAAM
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Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 2885

John B McCormick: Gallery (1 items)