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John Sterling Saunders

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John Sterling Saunders Veteran

Birth
Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan, USA
Death
8 Nov 1942 (aged 24)
France
Burial
Birmingham, Oakland County, Michigan, USA GPS-Latitude: 42.5539665, Longitude: -83.2249146
Plot
Section H, Lot T, Grave 3
Memorial ID
View Source
USAAF WORLD WAR II
Gunner S/Sgt. John S. Saunders KIA
Hometown: Ohio
Squadron: 369th 306th Bomb Group
Service #35300780
Awards: Purple Heart
Pilot Capt. Richard D. Adams

(MACR) #16133
Target: Lille, France,
Mission Date: 8-Nov-42
Serial Number: # 41-24472
Aircraft Model B-17F
Aircraft Letter:
Aircraft Name:
Location:
Cause: FLAK and German fighters
Crew of10 5KIA 4POW 1EVD

The group moved east in preparation for deployment overseas to England. After several layovers at various bases, the air crews flew to Newfoundland and then to Prestwick, Scotland. On 9/11/1942, they arrived at Royal Air Force (RAF) base Thurleigh, Bedfordshire, England (the ground crews had arrived on 9/6/1942). They were now known as the 369th Bomber Squadron, 306th Bomber Group(Heavy), 8th Air Force "The Mighty Eighth", 1st Bombardment Division under the command of General Ira Eaker.

On 11/8/1942, this crew flew out of England for a mission over Lille, France, with 19 other B-17 bombers of the 306th Group bombers. They were flying a B-17 with the Sn# Sn# 41-24472. After the initial run over the target, the 369th Squadron commander, flying in the lead ship, turned the five 369th Bomb Squadron ships back for a second fly over the target as they had not, for some reason, released their bombs on the first trip. During the next 30 minutes, the Adam's crews' bomber was damaged by FLAK and then approximately 30 Focke-Wulf 190 German fighters made around 200 attacks on the 369th planes. The Adam's crew plane, was shot out of the sky during the first run of these fighter attacks and was seen by the crews in the other bombers to be headed to the ground spinning out of control.

Reportedly, the Major commanding the squadron on this mission and who ordered the bombers to do a second fly-over the target, was relieved a month later and given a desk job in Group Operations.

For more information on this crash, please refer to Missing Air Crew Report (MACR) #16133.

# 41-24472 Crew
Capt. Richard D. Adams Pilot POW
1st/Lt. John A. Latchford Jr. Navigator POW
S/Sgt. John S. Saunders
S/Sgt. Jim T. Mccloy
S/Sgt. Anthony J. Lacek
S/Sgt. Peter Greyno
S/Sgt. Frank M. Zeck
USAAF WORLD WAR II
Gunner S/Sgt. John S. Saunders KIA
Hometown: Ohio
Squadron: 369th 306th Bomb Group
Service #35300780
Awards: Purple Heart
Pilot Capt. Richard D. Adams

(MACR) #16133
Target: Lille, France,
Mission Date: 8-Nov-42
Serial Number: # 41-24472
Aircraft Model B-17F
Aircraft Letter:
Aircraft Name:
Location:
Cause: FLAK and German fighters
Crew of10 5KIA 4POW 1EVD

The group moved east in preparation for deployment overseas to England. After several layovers at various bases, the air crews flew to Newfoundland and then to Prestwick, Scotland. On 9/11/1942, they arrived at Royal Air Force (RAF) base Thurleigh, Bedfordshire, England (the ground crews had arrived on 9/6/1942). They were now known as the 369th Bomber Squadron, 306th Bomber Group(Heavy), 8th Air Force "The Mighty Eighth", 1st Bombardment Division under the command of General Ira Eaker.

On 11/8/1942, this crew flew out of England for a mission over Lille, France, with 19 other B-17 bombers of the 306th Group bombers. They were flying a B-17 with the Sn# Sn# 41-24472. After the initial run over the target, the 369th Squadron commander, flying in the lead ship, turned the five 369th Bomb Squadron ships back for a second fly over the target as they had not, for some reason, released their bombs on the first trip. During the next 30 minutes, the Adam's crews' bomber was damaged by FLAK and then approximately 30 Focke-Wulf 190 German fighters made around 200 attacks on the 369th planes. The Adam's crew plane, was shot out of the sky during the first run of these fighter attacks and was seen by the crews in the other bombers to be headed to the ground spinning out of control.

Reportedly, the Major commanding the squadron on this mission and who ordered the bombers to do a second fly-over the target, was relieved a month later and given a desk job in Group Operations.

For more information on this crash, please refer to Missing Air Crew Report (MACR) #16133.

# 41-24472 Crew
Capt. Richard D. Adams Pilot POW
1st/Lt. John A. Latchford Jr. Navigator POW
S/Sgt. John S. Saunders
S/Sgt. Jim T. Mccloy
S/Sgt. Anthony J. Lacek
S/Sgt. Peter Greyno
S/Sgt. Frank M. Zeck


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