John Talbot Carper

Military ROLL OF HONOUR
media-18026.png UPL 18026 John T. Carper photo (from The Bartlett Tribune and News, Bartlett, Texas, 13 July 1945.)

Object Number - UPL 18026 - John T. Carper photo (from The Bartlett Tribune and News, Bartlett, Texas, 13 July 1945.)

John Carper grew up in Bartlett, Texas, where he attended Bartlett High School. He graduated from the Agricultural and Mechanical College Texas, Class of 1940 and enlisted in the Air Corps in June 1942. He received his training at Barksdale Field, Louisiana; in California, in Arizona; in Amarillo, Texas and in Sioux City, Iowa. Sent overseas in 1944, he was assigned to the 305th Bomb Group/ 366th Bomb Squadron and served for about six months before being shot down in B-17 43-38052 on 17 October 1944 (Missing Air Crew Report - MACR 9473). His Father, John H. Carper had first been notified of his son’s Missing In Action statute in a letter he received on 8 February 1945 from the War Department, advising him also that his son had been awarded the Air Medal. The citation read: “For meritorious achievement while participating in sustained bomber combat operations over Germany and German occupied countries. The courage, coolness and skills displayed by this enlisted man upon these occasions reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.” Sadly, the following July, John Carper received a telegram from the War Department, which read : “I am deeply distressed to inform you your son S/Sgt John T. Carper who was previously reported missing in action Seventeen October, died of wounds while a prisoner of war of the German government nineteen October 1944. This information was extracted from captured official German records. The Secretary of War asks that I express his deep sympathy in your loss and his regret that unavoidable circumstances made necessary the unusual lapse of the time in reporting your son’s death to you. Confirming letter follows.”… John Carper rests at the Netherlands American Cemetery, Margraten, The Netherlands.

Connections

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Units served with

Unofficial emblem, 305th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 366th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 39556573
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 366th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 38405362
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 366th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 37562821
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier, Togglier
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 366th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19093317 and O-764060
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 366th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 38566563
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 366th Bomb Squadron

Missions

  • Date: 17 October 1944

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Enlisted

Roanoke, Virginia, United States 25 June 1942 as a Private in the Air Corps

Other

Died Of Wounds (DOW)

Merten-Bornheim, Germany 19 October 1944 Wounded in the crash of 43-38052 on 17 October 1944, he was captured immediately near Merten, Germany and died 2 days later. Missing Air Crew Report - MACR 9473.

Born

Texas, United States the son of John H. Carper
Bartlett, Texas, United States

Buried

John Carper rests at Plot H Row 10 Grave 25

Revisions

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

MACR 9473
NARA WWII Enlistment records
http://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth81697/m1/1/

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 9473 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

John Talbot Carper: Gallery (1 items)