Thornhill, John Grover

Individual Personnel Data
Name Thornhill, John Grover   ‡
⇗
Rank Private First Class / Staff Sergeant
Serial Number 37621179   ‡
Unit Assignments Assigned to the 547th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #144 dated 22 July 1944, effective 22 July 1944.
Duty Flexible Gunner
MOS611 - Aerial Gunner
Last Duty Date 25 August 1944
Results Prisoner Of War
POW Camp: Stalag Luft 4 Gross-Tychow (formerly Heydekrug) Pomerania, Prussia (moved to Wobbelin Bei Ludwigslust) (To Usedom Bei Savenmunde) 54-16
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 8 May 1925
  • Promoted from Private First Class Sergeant per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #149 dated 27 July 1944.
  • Promoted to Staff Sergeant on AAF Station 106 Special Orders #163 dated 14 August 1944.
Related Documents Missing Air Crew Report # 8466⇓ (25.908 MB)
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album⇗




Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Rainey, Harry Wesley, Jr⇗PilotPOW
2nd Lt. Rowe, J Z (IO)⇗Co-pilotPOW
2nd Lt. Francis, Charles Dean, III⇗NavigatorPOW
2nd Lt. Kendall, Walter Selium, Jr⇗BombardierPOW
SGT. Sturdivant, Donald Barrett⇗Radio Operator / GunnerPOW
S/SGT. Evans, Jack Clifton⇗Engineer / Top Turret GunnerPOW
CPL. Mosier, Richard Nelson⇗Ball Turret GunnerPOW
CPL. Gordon, Norman Hirsch⇗Tail GunnerKIA
SGT. Knowlton, Alfred Bachelor⇗Flexible GunnerEV
PFC. Thornhill, John GroverFlexible GunnerPOW

Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 8 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
169⇗ 1 August 1944 Target: Railroad Bridge
Type: Transportation
Location: Chartres, France
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑97204⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead Group, High Squadron. Dropped bombs early.
Sortie Report⇗
170⇗ 3 August 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Fleury, Flers, Fiefs, France
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑37788⇗ Combat Mission Credit
I Group Hot Camera Ship.
Sortie Report⇗
171⇗ 4 August 1944 Target: Rocket Research & Development Complex
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Peenemünde, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑37788⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
173⇗ 5 August 1944 Target: Luftwaffe Controlling Station
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Langenhagen, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑37788⇗ Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed
Lead group.
Sortie Report⇗
177⇗ 11 August 1944 Target: Tactical: Coastal Artillery Emplacements
Type: Military
Location: Brest, France
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 43‑37843⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
178⇗ 12 August 1944 Target: "Landing Ground"
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: La Perthe, France
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 43‑37990⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low group.
Sortie Report⇗
181⇗ 16 August 1944 Target: Delitzsch Air Field and Air Equipment Depot
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Delitzsch, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 44‑6080⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead group hot camera ship.
Sortie Report⇗
182⇗ 18 August 1944 Target: Tactical: Bridge
Type: Transportation
Location: Vise, Belgium
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑32106⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High section deputy, low group.
Sortie Report⇗
185⇗ 26 August 1944 Target: Buer Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑97204⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Failed To Return
Lead group. At 1228 hrs, shortly after leaving target, aircraft observed feathering #4 engine and dropped down very rapidly, falling behind, but under control; crashed near the Oldebroek army training area, Wezep, The Netherlands. MACR 8466
Sortie Report⇗

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