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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 RichardPilotKIA
2nd Lt. Kennedy, John Benton, JrCo-pilotPOW
2nd Lt. Hedin, Carl AntonNavigatorPOW
2nd Lt. Altman, Murray DavidBombardierKIA
SGT. Fallesen, Wayne PeterRadio Operator / GunnerPOW
T/SGT. McCracken, Dwight HowardEngineer / Top Turret GunnerPOW
S/SGT. O'Leary, Edward Joseph, "Mickey"Ball Turret GunnerPOW
S/SGT. Leibring, Clarence PaulTail GunnerEV
S/SGT. Zyglowicz, Bernard FrankFlexible GunnerEV
S/SGT. Girard, Donald RobertFlexible GunnerPOW

Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 7 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 Aborted Mission After Taking Off
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.
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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