John Francis Thornell Jr
MilitaryIWM, Roger Freeman Collection
Thornell joined the US Army Air Force in 1942, he joined the 352nd Fighter Group in December 1943. Within six months he had amassed 17.25 claims, his final victory was on 21-Jun-44 and he was subsequently promoted to Captain. Thornell remained with the US Air Force until 1971, when he retired as Lieutenant-Colonel.
Awards: DSC, SS (OLC), DFC (5OLC), AM (5OLC), GC, WWII Victory, EAME (2 x Battle Stars), American Campaign and Defence, OCC, National Defense (OLC), AFC, AF Longevity (6OLC).
Distinguished Service Cross Citation:
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to First Lieutenant (Air Corps) John Francis Thornell, Jr. (ASN: 0-797743), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a P-51 Fighter Airplane in the 328th Fighter Squadron, 352d Fighter Group, EIGHTH Air Force, in aerial combat against enemy forces on 8 May 1944, in the European Theater of Operations. On this date, Lieutenant Thornell, with complete disregard for the odds against him, led a flight against a vastly superior force of enemy fighters in the vicinity of Nienburg, Germany, and dispersed the enemy attempting to intercept a friendly bomber formation. Determined to destroy the enemy, accompanied by two other friendly fighters he attacked three enemy fighters and by courageous flying and skillful gunnery destroyed two of them. Later, Lieutenant Thornell was attacked by a lone enemy fighter whom he outmaneuvered and destroyed, bringing his total for the day to three enemy airplanes destroyed. The outstanding courage, coolness, and skill displayed by Lieutenant Thornell upon this occasion reflect highest credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.
Headquarters, U.S. Strategic Forces in Europe, General Orders No. 44 (July 22, 1944)
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
Aircraft
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Royal Air Force Bodney
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Stoughton, MA, USA | 19 April 1921 | Son of John F Sr and Anne T [McDonald] Thornell. |
Enlisted |
Boston, MA | 2 July 1940 | Boston, Massachusetts |
Other Operational training |
Craig Field, Selma, AL | 16 February 1943 | Commissioned 2nd Lieutenant, Craig Field, Alabama. |
Buried |
Riverside, CA, USA | 3 September 1998 | |
Buried |
Riverside National Cemetery Riverside, Riverside County, CA | 6 September 1998 | Riverside National Cemetery Riverside, Riverside County, California |
Other Pilot training |
Maxwell Field, AL | Primary Flight training - Maxwell Field, Alabama | |
Other Pilot training |
Blytheville AAF, Arkansas | Advanced Flight training - Blytheville, Arkansas | |
Enlisted |
|||
Other Gunnery training |
Eglin Field, FL | Gunnery training - Craig Field, Alabama | |
Other Transferred |
Transferred from Field Artillery to USAAC. | ||
Based |
Bodney | Assigned to 328FS, 352FG, 8AF USAAF. |
Revisions
Merged data from duplicate records.
Changed service number from 0-797773 to 0-797743
Freeman, The Mighty Eighth, P. 277.
Hess, America's Top Eighth Air Force Aces in Their Own Words, pp.161-162.
Ted Damick, VIII Fighter Command pilots list
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Fighter Aces of the U. S. A. and Mustang Aces of the Eighth Air Force; Who's Who in the Eighth Air Force and/or Biographical Directory Command & Staff Officers Eighth Air Force 1942-45 / Ted Damick, VIII Fighter Command pilots list