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name
JUPINKO, John - Date of
birth
8 July 1924 -
Age
20 -
Place of birth
Moundsville, Marshall County, West Virginia -
Hometown
Port Orange, Volusia County, Florida
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
34795663 -
Rank
Sergeant -
Function
Tail Gunner -
Unit
860th Bombardment Squadron,
493rd Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
30 September 1944 - Place of
death
Near Detmold, east of Bielefeld, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| A | 31 | 45 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Steve Jupinko (father)
Sophia Jupinko (mother)
Annie Jupinko (sister)
Mary Jupinko (sister)
Elizabeth Jupinko (sister)
Stella Jupinko (sister)
Florence Jupinko (sister)
Frances Jupinko (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
43-38480 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Bielefeld, Germany
MACR: 9430
More information
Sgt John Jupinko enlisted on 4 November 1943 at Camp Blanding, Florida.#43-38480 (A/C 480), flying the No. 3 position in the high element was hit by the blast and debris of A/C 115 (#43-38115) which aircraft itself had been hit by a bomb (500 lb. G.P. – 1/10 tail – 1/40 nose fuzing) or bombs dropped from another A/C in the high element of 493rd "A" lead group.
The blast and debris from A/C 115 caused the probable destruction of #43-38480. Before the aircraft eventually exploded only two crew members were able to bail out in
time (S/Sgt Jack Kenneth Glide (Radio Operator) and Sgt Howard S. Ortlip (Engineer/Gunner)). Both crewmembers survived and were taken prisoner.
Source of information: Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov – WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - 1930/1940 Census / WWII Draft Card / Casualty Questionnaire, http://www.usaafdata.com/ - USAAF Personnel Records, www.fold3.com - MACR
Photo source: Peter Schouteten