Missing information?
Do you have any additional information you would like to share about a soldier?
Submit- Full
name
SHEEHAN, John J - Date of
birth
29 November 1921 -
Age
23 -
Place of birth
Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts -
Hometown
Middlesex County, Massachusetts
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-816603 -
Rank
First Lieutenant -
Function
Co-Pilot -
Unit
497th Bombardment Squadron,
344th Bombardment Group, Medium
-
Awards
Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster,
Air Medal with 11 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
23 February 1945 - Place of
death
Geilenkirchen, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| C | 9 | 31 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Timothy J. Sheehan (father)
Margaret (O'Neill) Sheehan (wife)
Plane data
- Serial
number
43-34565 -
Data
Type: B-26G
Nickname: Gratis Gladys
Destination: Geilenkirchen, Germany
Mission: Bombing of a railroad bridge
MACR: 12649
More information
1st Lt John J. Sheehan joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve in Boston, Massachusetts on 27 October 1942.Statement from Theodore R. Peargy, a crew member of another B-26 in the same group:
"After bombs were dropped over target, aircraft was hit by flak. One engine appeard to be afire. Aircraft was making a bank to the right when it went into a spin. Members of my crew watched the descent of the aircraft. It appeared to be under control at an altitude of approximately 8000 feet. A short time later my radio-gunner saw a plane crash and burst into flame. My Co-Pilot saw one man leave the aircraft immediately after it went into the spin, but did not see the chute open. My radio operator also saw one other man leave the aircraft and saw the parachute open."
The entire crew of seven men was killed.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.fold3.com, www.ancestry.com - 1940 Census / Shelton-Ferrier / WWII Draft Card
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Arie-Jan van Hees, Pilot Class Book 44-G Gibbs Field, Texas