John Frederick McGrady

Military ROLL OF HONOUR

Went down 23 February 1945 in B-24 #42-110160 'Chris Crate II', Killed in Action (KIA). Ditched in North Sea on 6th combat mission. Only 3 crewmen escaped and were rescued.

Connections

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Units served with

Three little girls hold up a balloon celebrating the 100th mission of the 466th Bomb Group in front of a B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-95592) nicknamed "Black Cat". Handwritten caption on reverse: 'On our 100 Mission party Day- 18 Aug 1944, Attlebridge, 466th- wouldn't it be something if we could identify these girls? How could I do it?'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 785th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-777709
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Chris Crate II
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 491st Bomb Group 784th Bomb Squadron 853rd Bomb Squadron

Places

Aerial photograph of Attlebridge airfield, looking north, the fuel store and a T2 hangar are in the upper centre, 31 January 1946. Photograph taken by No. 90 Squadron, sortie number RAF/3G/TUD/UK/51. English Heritage (RAF Photography).
  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Attlebridge Arsenal, Station 120

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Winfield, PA 13 December 1924

Enlisted

Pittsburgh, PA 9 May 1943

Died

approx. 15 miles NNE of Cromer, Norfolk, UK 23 February 1945 On 23 Feb 1945 this crew took off on a mission at about 7:45 and ditched at 8:00 about 15 mi east of Cromer. (The location given in the accident report is 53 04N, 01 20 E which is more like 15 mi north of Cromer). Thomas J Foley was the Co-Pilot on B-24 from the based at Attlebridge. The pilot was Theodore V Kolaya. The plane had #4 engine on fire and #2 engine cutting out and the decision was made to ditch. The plane lost altitude very rapidly, hit the water and sank almost immediately. Three of the crew survived the RO, a Gunner and the Flight Engineer who were able to get out of the plane and release a life raft as the plane sank out of sight. Those three were sighted by a plane at 16:00 and were soon picked up by a PBY. The other six men in the nine man crew are still missing and are listed on the Wall of Remembrance
Worthington, PA 16262, USA

Buried

No Known Grave Tablets of The Missing Cambridge American Cemetery

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
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Added a "-" to the A/C serial number in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity & consistency.

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Contributor466thHistorian
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466th BG Historian

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Contributor466thHistorian
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466th BG Historian

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Contributor466thHistorian
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Contributor466thHistorian
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466th BG Historian

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Contributor466thHistorian
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466th BG Historian

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
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466th BG Historian

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ContributorAAM
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Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 2110160 Attlebridge Arsenal p. 159