John Edward Schaffer

Military

Assigned to 615BS, 401BG, 8AF USAAF. 29 x combat missions. Bill Trimble crew. Failed to Return (FTR) Bordeaux-Mérignac airfield in B-17 42-40002 19-Jun-44; force landed Le Pouyau. Evaded capture (EVD) MACR 6001

See the page with details about his evasion at https://www.evasioncomete.be/fschaffje.html

Awards: AM, WWII Victory, EAME.

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

A pathfinder B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 44-8258) of the 401st Bomb Group. Image by Robert Astrella. Written on slide casing: '48258 14 A, Mount Farm.'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 615th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 13054628 / O-670027
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 615th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-36895
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

A crashed B-17 Flying Fortress of the 401st Bomb Group. Image via R Bowers. First handwritten caption on reverse: 'Home on two engines.' Second handwritten caption on reverse: '"Breezing Home" IY-D, 42-40002. 401 BG.'
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Breezing Home
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 615th Bomb Squadron

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Cullman, Alabama, USA 11 October 1920 Son of Frank J Schaffer.

Enlisted

Fort McClellan, AL 15 October 1942 Fort McClellan, Alabama

Other

Evaded

Le Pouyau, France 19 June 1944 - 1 September 1944 Failed to Return (FTR) Bordeaux-Mérignac airfield in B-17 42-40002 19-Jun-44; force landed Le Pouyau. Evaded capture (EVD) MACR 6001

Other

Discharged USAAF

1 October 1945 Honourable discharge.

Died

Birmingham, Alabama, United States 28 September 1992

Buried

Sacred Heart Cemetery Cullman, Cullman County, AL Sacred Heart Cemetery Cullman, Cullman County, Alabama

Based

Deenethorpe 19 June 1944 Assigned to 615BS, 401BG, 8AF USAAF.

Revisions

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

Added address for his page at website www.evasioncomete.be

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 6001 / MACR6001 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database