John W Martko
Military
Crew left to right:
Front row T/Sgt. Richard A Kraham of Cooperstown, NY radio operator; S/Sgt. John I White of Plainview Arkansas, waist gunner
2nd Row: S/Sgt. John Martko, Mainville, NJ tailgunner; 1st Lt Charles B Hill Shreveport, LA navigator; 1st Lt John W Childers, Talent, OR co-pilot; 1st Lt Reuben J Weltha, Roland, IA pilot; S/Sgt. Donald F Swanson, Walsenberg, CO, waist gunner; 1st Lt Richard J Morrow, Madison, WI bombardier; S/Sgt Prentice Boston, Moundsville, WV, waist gunner; T/Sgt. Russel T Elkin, Markleysburg, PA Engineer,
Sgt Boston and Elkin can be seen on top of the plane.
Best Web - B-24 - Chug-A-Lug
Object Number - UPL 15201 - B-24D Liberator, 41-11766, Chug-A-Lug, 345th BS, 98th BG, 9th AF, flew in the bombing mission to destroy the oil refineries at Ploesti, Rumania, ...
SSgt. John Martko was a B-24 tail gunner on the B-24D, Chug-A-Lug. He was assigned to the 345th Bomb Squadron, in the 98th Bomb Group (The Pyramiders), in the 9th Air Force (The Force For Freedom), in the USAAF, but did not fly on the Operation Tidal Wave Mission on 1 Aug 1943. He completed his combat tour and returned to USA with his B-24D, Chug-A-Lug, for a war bond tour.
Awards: AM (4OLC), WWII Victory, EAME.
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: Ninth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 98th Bomb Group 345th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 17027297 / O-?
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: - Chug-A-Lug
- Unit: 98th Bomb Group 345th Bomb Squadron
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Soluch Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Newark, NJ | 8 August 1922 | Son of Vincent and Katherine Martko. |
|
Enlisted |
Camden, NJ | 2 September 1942 | Camden, New Jersey |
|
Died |
|||
|
Buried |
Brig Gen Wm C Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery Arneytown, Burlington County, NJ | Brig Gen Wm C Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery Arneytown, Burlington County, New Jersey | |
|
Other Hospitalised |
United Kingdom | Hospitalised UK. | |
|
Based |
Benina | Assigned to 345BS, 98BG, 9AF USAAF. | |
| Manville, NJ |
Revisions
https://www.fold3.com/image/37129561
https://www.fold3.com/image/676284537
https://www.fold3.com/image/160216283
https://www.fold3.com/record/83596772-john-w-martko
https://www.fold3.com/record/704084973-martko-john-w
https://www.archives.com/1940-census/john-martko-nj-127594303
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/213225779/john-w-martko
https://www.fold3.com/image/37129561
https://www.fold3.com/image/676284537
https://www.fold3.com/image/160216283
https://www.fold3.com/record/83596772-john-w-martko
https://www.fold3.com/record/704084973-martko-john-w
https://www.archives.com/1940-census/john-martko-nj-127594303
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/213225779/john-w-martko
https://www.fold3.com/image/37129561
https://www.fold3.com/image/676284537
https://www.fold3.com/image/160216283
https://www.fold3.com/record/83596772-john-w-martko
https://www.fold3.com/record/704084973-martko-john-w
https://www.archives.com/1940-census/john-martko-nj-127594303
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/213225779/john-w-martko