Son of Vernon Leroy McKinstry, Sr. and Loraine Fromang McKinstry.
Vernon served as a First Lieutenant & Pilot on B-24 "Rage in Heaven" #44-40165, 852nd Bomber Squadron, 491st Bomber Group, U.S. Army Air Force during World War II.
He resided in Prince George's County, Maryland prior to the war.
B-24 #44-40165 was being used as a "Formation Ship". During takeoff, for an unknown reason, their B-24 exploded and then they crashed near Swaffham, Norfolk, England. There were no survivors.
Vernon died in the "Line Of Duty" in this crash during the war.
He was awarded the Air Medal.
Service # O-463894
Historical Note: "Formation Ships" were typically older planes that were painted with a lot of color, normally via stripes, and with extra lighting. When other B-24's were going on a mission the "Formation Ships" flew up first (since multiple formation were normally being made) and the B-24's going on that mission would fall in behind their "Formation Ship". Once the formation was completed the "Formation Ship" would return to base while the other's left on their mission.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Airmen who perished on B-24 #44-40165:
Allen, David C ~ T/Sgt, TX
Hunter, David L ~ Sgt, MS
Kunkel, William D ~ Sgt, Gunner, MO
MacCallum, David E ~ Sgt, MA
McConnell, Bartley F ~ Sgt, Gunner, WI
McKinstry, Vernon L, Jr ~ 1st Lt, Pilot, MD
Nadrasik, Eugene W ~ 2nd Lt, Navigator, OH
Nagel, Robert E ~ 2nd Lt, Co-Pilot, KY
Triplett, Philip J ~ Sgt, Tail Gunner, VA
Bio & Crew Report by:
Russell S. "Russ" Pickett
Special thanks to:
John C. Anderson for submitting this record for bio updates!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Vernon served as a First Lieutenant & Pilot on B-24 "Rage in Heaven" #44-40165, 852nd Bomber Squadron, 491st Bomber Group, U.S. Army Air Force during World War II.
He resided in Prince George's County, Maryland prior to the war.
B-24 #44-40165 was being used as a "Formation Ship". During takeoff, for an unknown reason, their B-24 exploded and then they crashed near Swaffham, Norfolk, England. There were no survivors.
Vernon died in the "Line Of Duty" in this crash during the war.
He was awarded the Air Medal.
Service # O-463894
Historical Note: "Formation Ships" were typically older planes that were painted with a lot of color, normally via stripes, and with extra lighting. When other B-24's were going on a mission the "Formation Ships" flew up first (since multiple formation were normally being made) and the B-24's going on that mission would fall in behind their "Formation Ship". Once the formation was completed the "Formation Ship" would return to base while the other's left on their mission.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Airmen who perished on B-24 #44-40165:
Allen, David C ~ T/Sgt, TX
Hunter, David L ~ Sgt, MS
Kunkel, William D ~ Sgt, Gunner, MO
MacCallum, David E ~ Sgt, MA
McConnell, Bartley F ~ Sgt, Gunner, WI
McKinstry, Vernon L, Jr ~ 1st Lt, Pilot, MD
Nadrasik, Eugene W ~ 2nd Lt, Navigator, OH
Nagel, Robert E ~ 2nd Lt, Co-Pilot, KY
Triplett, Philip J ~ Sgt, Tail Gunner, VA
Bio & Crew Report by:
Russell S. "Russ" Pickett
Special thanks to:
John C. Anderson for submitting this record for bio updates!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Son of Vernon Leroy McKinstry, Sr. and Loraine Fromang McKinstry.
Vernon served as a First Lieutenant & Pilot on B-24 "Rage in Heaven" #44-40165, 852nd Bomber Squadron, 491st Bomber Group, U.S. Army Air Force during World War II.
He resided in Prince George's County, Maryland prior to the war.
B-24 #44-40165 was being used as a "Formation Ship". During takeoff, for an unknown reason, their B-24 exploded and then they crashed near Swaffham, Norfolk, England. There were no survivors.
Vernon died in the "Line Of Duty" in this crash during the war.
He was awarded the Air Medal.
Service # O-463894
Historical Note: "Formation Ships" were typically older planes that were painted with a lot of color, normally via stripes, and with extra lighting. When other B-24's were going on a mission the "Formation Ships" flew up first (since multiple formation were normally being made) and the B-24's going on that mission would fall in behind their "Formation Ship". Once the formation was completed the "Formation Ship" would return to base while the other's left on their mission.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Airmen who perished on B-24 #44-40165:
Allen, David C ~ T/Sgt, TX
Hunter, David L ~ Sgt, MS
Kunkel, William D ~ Sgt, Gunner, MO
MacCallum, David E ~ Sgt, MA
McConnell, Bartley F ~ Sgt, Gunner, WI
McKinstry, Vernon L, Jr ~ 1st Lt, Pilot, MD
Nadrasik, Eugene W ~ 2nd Lt, Navigator, OH
Nagel, Robert E ~ 2nd Lt, Co-Pilot, KY
Triplett, Philip J ~ Sgt, Tail Gunner, VA
Bio & Crew Report by:
Russell S. "Russ" Pickett
Special thanks to:
John C. Anderson for submitting this record for bio updates!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Vernon served as a First Lieutenant & Pilot on B-24 "Rage in Heaven" #44-40165, 852nd Bomber Squadron, 491st Bomber Group, U.S. Army Air Force during World War II.
He resided in Prince George's County, Maryland prior to the war.
B-24 #44-40165 was being used as a "Formation Ship". During takeoff, for an unknown reason, their B-24 exploded and then they crashed near Swaffham, Norfolk, England. There were no survivors.
Vernon died in the "Line Of Duty" in this crash during the war.
He was awarded the Air Medal.
Service # O-463894
Historical Note: "Formation Ships" were typically older planes that were painted with a lot of color, normally via stripes, and with extra lighting. When other B-24's were going on a mission the "Formation Ships" flew up first (since multiple formation were normally being made) and the B-24's going on that mission would fall in behind their "Formation Ship". Once the formation was completed the "Formation Ship" would return to base while the other's left on their mission.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Airmen who perished on B-24 #44-40165:
Allen, David C ~ T/Sgt, TX
Hunter, David L ~ Sgt, MS
Kunkel, William D ~ Sgt, Gunner, MO
MacCallum, David E ~ Sgt, MA
McConnell, Bartley F ~ Sgt, Gunner, WI
McKinstry, Vernon L, Jr ~ 1st Lt, Pilot, MD
Nadrasik, Eugene W ~ 2nd Lt, Navigator, OH
Nagel, Robert E ~ 2nd Lt, Co-Pilot, KY
Triplett, Philip J ~ Sgt, Tail Gunner, VA
Bio & Crew Report by:
Russell S. "Russ" Pickett
Special thanks to:
John C. Anderson for submitting this record for bio updates!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Inscription
1st Lieutenant, 8th Air Force
U.S. Army
World War II
Family Members
Other Records
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