Bernard Louis McGrattan
Military ROLL OF HONOUR'Eighty-One Aces of the 4th Fighter Group' by Frank Speer.
Bernard was from Utica, New York. Like many young men of the period he could not wait to fly in WW II. Prior to U.S. entry into the war he went north and joined the RCAF. After earning his wings as a Flying Officer, he accumulated 286 hours prior to transferring to the U.S. Eighth Air Force on 26 May 1943.
He was assigned to the 4th Fighter Group, 335th squadron with the commission of Lieutenant in September. Flying P-47s Thunderbolts, he scored his first victory in February 1944, shooting down an Fw-190. Shortly thereafter the group exchanged their P-47s for the new P-51 Mustangs. Bernard then shot down two twin-engine planes in March and followed with 3 1/2 victories in April. Meantime, he was appointed C.O. of "A" Flight as he became an "Ace".
In May he destroyed another Me-109, and becoming a captain, he celebrated with the destruction of another Fw-190. Having completed his tour of combat with 9 victories to his credit, he had his bags packed for return to the States on leave. However, on 6 June, when he was scheduled to leave, he did not want to miss D-Day. He begged to be included in the invasion and was reluctantly assigned to lead "Blue Flight" on a mission near Rouen, France. They were flying on the deck strafing any targets of opportunity when suddenly, out of the low lying clouds, 10-plus enemy fighters appeared on their tails. With no room to manoeuvre the four of them were shot down almost instantly and killed. The only one who escaped was Kidd Hofer, who had joined them as a fifth man in the flight.
Bernard had 8.5 victories to his credit, and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the air Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Purple Heart.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 4th Fighter Group 335th Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: 16024128
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Crew Chief
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 4th Fighter Group 335th Fighter Squadron
- Highest Rank: Corporal
- Role/Job: Ass. Crew chief
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
- Unit: 4th Fighter Group 335th Fighter Squadron
- Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
- Nicknames: Pistol Packin Mama
- Unit: 48th Fighter Group 495th Fighter Training Group 4th Fighter Group 335th Fighter Squadron 493rd Fighter Squadron 551st Fighter Training Squadron
- Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
- Unit: 4th Fighter Group 335th Fighter Squadron
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Buffalo, NY | 9 March 1920 | Son of Bernard Charles McGrattan. |
Other Assigned |
Debden, Essex | 14 September 1943 - 6 June 1944 | Assigned to 335FS, 4FG, 8AF USAAF. |
Other Promotion |
Debden, Essex | 20 December 1943 | Promoted to 2nd Lieutenant. |
Other Promotion |
Debden, Essex | 16 February 1944 | Promoted to 1st Lieutenant. |
Other Promotion |
Debden, Essex | 22 May 1944 | Promoted to Captain. |
Other Killed in action |
Neubourg, 67350 Dauendorf, France | 6 June 1944 | Whilst strafing truck convoy his section were bounced by 15+ enemy fighters. Shot down in P-51B 42-106576. KIA. MACR 5611. |
Utica, NY, USA | |||
Buried |
Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial | Re-Interred Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial Plot B Row 3 Grave 31 |
Revisions
Merged with duplicate entry to include details from:
- MACR 5611;
- Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database;
- http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/src/dbmacr.asp?MACR=5611
https://www.fold3.com/image/28622890
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=McGrattan&GSfn=Ber...
Personal research & 'Eighty-One Aces of the 4th Fighter Group' by Frank Speer.