John Michael Conroy
Military
Object Number - UPL 38760 - John Michael 'Jack' Conroy and Guppy in background.
Assigned to 527BS, 379BG, 8AF USAAF. 30 x combat missions. Failed to Return (FTR) Zietz in B-17 42-31597 'Landa'; Shot down by intense flak 30-Nov-44. In baling out, was struck by open bomb bay doors resulting in a damaged shoulder and sustaining a broken arm. Prisoner of War (POW). MACR 11127
Awards: DFC, AM (2OLC), PH, POW, WWII Victory, EAME.
Post war: Remained in USAF serving in Korean conflict, discharged 1948. Joined air national guard between 1960-61. Later became a businessman, whose company Aero Spacelines developed the Pregnant Guppy, Super Guppy, and Mini Guppy cargo aircraft. He also later founded Conroy Aircraft and Specialized Aircraft in Santa Barbara, California.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 379th Bomb Group 527th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 37545022
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 379th Bomb Group 527th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 12175934 / O-825139
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 379th Bomb Group 527th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 32704004
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 379th Bomb Group 527th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 13146338
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 379th Bomb Group 527th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-765703
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Landa
- Unit: 379th Bomb Group 527th Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 30 November 1944
Places
- Site type: Prisoner of war camp
- Known as: Dulag Luft Grosstychow Dulag 12
- Site type: Airfield
- Site type: Prisoner of war camp
- Known as: Stalag Luft I, Barth, Germany
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Buffalo, Eerie County, NY | 14 December 1920 | Son of Mrs Cellestine R Stowe. |
|
Other Baled out WIA |
Zeitz, Germany | 30 November 1944 | Failed to Return (FTR) Zietz in B-17 42-31597 'Landa'; Shot down by intense flak 30-Nov-44. Baled out WIA MACR 11127 |
|
Other Wounded in bale out |
Leipzig - Wahren | 30 November 1944 - 15 December 1944 | Hospitalised Leipzig - Wahren. |
|
Other Prisoner of War (POW) |
Barth, Germany | 15 December 1944 | Prisoner of War (POW). Stalag Luft I. |
|
Died |
Northridge, CA | 5 December 1979 | |
|
Buried |
Pistol Creek Ranch, Cascade, ID | 8 December 1979 | Pistol Creek Ranch, Cascade, Idaho |
|
Based |
Kimbolton | 30 November 1944 | Assigned to 527BS, 379BG, 8AF USAAF. |
|
Other Discharged USAF |
Honourable discharge. | ||
|
Enlisted |
Enlisted in aftermath of pearl harbour attack. |
Revisions
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 11127 / MACR 11127; 379th Bombardment Group Anthology, pg 331 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database
