John Francis Collins

Military
media-52820.jpeg UPL 52820 Sgt John F Collins. 401BG.

USAAF Photo

Object Number - UPL 52820 - Sgt John F Collins. 401BG.

Assigned to 613BS, 401BG, 8AF USAAF. 19 x combat missions. 'Jack' Shepherd crew. On his first mission John was injured by enemy flak and received the Purple Heart.





Awards: AM (2OLC), PH, WWII Victory, EAME (1 x Battle Star).

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.'

401st Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

Jacob N Shepherd

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron 615th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-828344
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

43-38458

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Bottle Baby
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron 615th Bomb Squadron
Damaged B-17 Flying Fortresses including (serial number 44-6146) of the 401st Bomb Group, and of the 486th Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'IN-R, 401BG.' A veteran has handwritten on reverse: 'Winter of 1944. This plane's bombardier was my best friend in high school. We joined the aviation cadets together in fall of 1942. Plane is from the 486th Bomb Group. It was struck in the rear by another plane in formation and tail gunner fell to his death over Germany. The Germans buried him and sent ph

44-6146

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Little Cheezer
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron 615th Bomb Squadron

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Boston, MA 13 April 1925 Son of Francis J Collins.

Enlisted

Boston, MA 9 July 1943 Boston, Massachusetts

Died

Cape Cod, MA 2 May 2012

Buried

Massachusetts National Cemetery Bourne, Barnstable County, MA 5 May 2012 Massachusetts National Cemetery Bourne, Barnstable County, Massachusetts

Based

Deenethorpe Assigned to 613BS, 401BG, 8AF USAAF.

Revisions

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

https://www.fold3.com/record/85778064/john-f-collins-wwii-army-enlistme…
https://www.fold3.com/record/701389861/collins-john-f-us-wwii-hospital-…
https://www.fold3.com/record/700248465/collins-john-f-us-wwii-hospital-…
http://401bg.org/Main/History/Members/Details.aspx?ID=2188
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/106408794/john-francis-collins

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / http://www.401bg.org/Main/History/Members/Details.aspx?ID=2188

John Francis Collins: Gallery (1 items)

Object number: UPL 52820 - Sgt John F Collins. 401BG.