John C Morgan
Military
IWM, Roger Freeman Collection
Object Number - FRE 2011 - Second Lieutenant John C "Red" Morgan of the 482nd Bomb Group is interviewed by Lieutenant Joe Graham. Handwritten caption on reverse: '2nd Lt JC...
John Morgan served as a co-pilot with the 482nd Bomb Group. On 26 July 1943, he flew damaged B-17 #42-29802 back to base after pilot was seriously injured and aircraft was badly damaged. For over 2 hours he flew it one handed because he had to hold the pilot up off the controls.
On 6 March 1944, he was flying B-17F #42-3491 'Chopstick-G George' when the aircraft was shot down by heavy flak just prior to the target of Klein Machnow, Berlin. He was taken as a Prisoner of War (POW) and held in Stalag Luft I for 14 months.
John "Red" Morgan was the only Medal of Honor recipient to become a POW after receiving the Medal.
The character of Lt. Jesse Bishop in the movie Twelve O'Clock High was based upon Morgan.
MOH/ POW/Air Medal
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 326th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-789368
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
![First Lieutenant Louis A. Dentoni of the 385th Bomb Group checks the bomb load of his B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Lulu Belle" before a mission. Passed for publication 25 Sep 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'Youth Of The Flying Fortresses. USP/224I-49. A Flying Fortress hero - the leading bombadier[sic] of this Flying Fortress group who is only 24 years of age. He is 1/Lt. Louis A. Dentoni, here seen in the bomb bay of his Fort, checking the load before the take-off on another mission in the "Lulu Be](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-413630.jpg.webp?itok=F7rJs_L0)
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 385th Bomb Group 551st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 19036033 on enlistment, O-735978
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Group Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 325th Bomb Squadron 326th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 326th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 325th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
Aircraft
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Vernon, Texas | 24 August 1924 | |
|
Other Prisoner of War (POW) |
Germany | 6 March 1944 | Stalag Luft 3 Sagan-Silesia Bavaria (Moved to Nuremberg-Langwasser) 49-11 |
Revisions
Added the awards mentioned in the "Summary biography". Added S/N and POW camp info from POW records at the National Archives.
Brought in information from duplicate record. Sources:
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 3362, Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces & page 28 in HISTORY OF THE OPERATIONAL PERIOD OF THE 482nd BOMBARDMENT GROUP, D790.G482.M6, 1944 & page 641 of MEDAL OF HONOR Congressional Report book, UB433.A54 1968
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Freeman, MOH Citation
