Kennedy, John Benton, Jr

Individual Personnel Data
Name Kennedy, John Benton, Jr   ‡
⇗
Rank Second Lieutenant
Serial Number O-802413   ‡
Unit Assignments
  • Assigned to the 544th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #93 dated 11 September 1943, effective 11 September 1943.
  • Transferred to a non-384th unit, per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #168 - Detachment of Patients at 303 Station Hospital, APO 562, effective 15 December 1943.
  • Assigned to the 544th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per 544th Bomb Squadron Morning Report dated 28 January 1944, effective 22 January 1944.
Duty Co-pilot
MOS1091 - Pilot, B-17
Last Duty Date 4 March 1944
Results Prisoner Of War
POW Camp: Stalag Luft 3 Sagan-Silesia (Moved to Nuremberg-Langwasser) 49-11
DecorationsAwarded the Purple Heart medal for wounds received on 3 November 1943 per General Orders #21, Headquarters, 1st Bomb Division dated 12 November 1943.
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 2 July 1915
Related Documents Missing Air Crew Report # 2741⇓ (54.222 MB)
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album⇗
Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
Flt. Ofcr. Carpenter, Walter Richard⇗PilotKIA
2nd Lt. Kennedy, John Benton, JrCo-pilotPOW
2nd Lt. Hedin, Carl Anton⇗NavigatorPOW
2nd Lt. Altman, Murray David⇗BombardierKIA
SGT. Fallesen, Wayne Peter⇗Radio Operator / GunnerPOW
T/SGT. McCracken, Dwight Howard⇗Engineer / Top Turret GunnerPOW
S/SGT. O'Leary, Edward Joseph, "Mickey"⇗Ball Turret GunnerPOW
S/SGT. Leibring, Clarence Paul⇗Tail GunnerEV
S/SGT. Zyglowicz, Bernard Frank⇗Flexible GunnerEV
S/SGT. Girard, Donald Robert⇗Flexible GunnerPOW
Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 8 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
27⇗ 2 October 1943 Target: Port Facilities
Type: Transportation
Location: Emden, Germany 		Co-pilot 42‑29717⇗ Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed
Sortie Report⇗
28⇗ 4 October 1943 Type: Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany 		Co-pilot 42‑5051⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Landed away at Boxted due to low fuel.
Sortie Report⇗
30⇗ 9 October 1943 Target: Aircraft Factories
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Anklam, Germany 		Co-pilot 42‑29651⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
32⇗ 14 October 1943 Target: Ball-Bearing Factory
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Schweinfurt, Germany 		Co-pilot 42‑29717⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Tail gunners heated suit failed after crossing coast and inside enemy territory. Individual Sortie Reports and Squadron Commander's notes on the Abortive Report submitted by the pilot indicate that combat credit was granted.
Sortie Report⇗
33⇗ 20 October 1943 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Düren, Germany 		Co-pilot 42‑29717⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
--⇗ 30 October 1943 Target: Marshaling Yard
Type: Transportation
Location: Geilenkirchen, Germany 		Co-pilot 42‑29717⇗ Sortie Report⇗
34⇗ 3 November 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Wilhelmshafen, Germany 		Co-pilot 42‑29717⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Kennedy (CP) and Hedin (N) wounded by flak burst in nose of aircraft.
Sortie Report⇗
64⇗ 21 February 1944 Target: Fighter Field & Aircraft Storage Depot
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Werl, Germany 		Co-pilot 42‑31495⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead, low group.
Sortie Report⇗
65⇗ 22 February 1944 Target: Aircraft Factory
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Halberstadt & Aschersleben, Germany 		Co-pilot 42‑31495⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
41A Group Deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
68⇗ 28 February 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Preuseville, France 		Co-pilot 42‑31495⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
70⇗ 3 March 1944 Target: Roller-Bearing Factory
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Co-pilot 42‑31346⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back because #2 engine supercharger surged and oscillated.
FLIGHT TIME 4:40
Sortie Report⇗
71⇗ 4 March 1944 Type: Military
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Co-pilot 42‑39991⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Failed To Return
High Squadron lead. Was seen in formation at bombs away; at 1202 aircraft peeled off and left formation under control; all engines were running, but one may have been hit by flak; last seen going down still under control; flak, crashed 1 km south of Blangermont, France. MACR 2741
Sortie Report⇗

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