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Personal info

Full name
BONNASSIOLLE, John Patrick "Jack"
Date of birth
18 September 1923
Age
20
Place of birth
San Francisco County, California
Hometown
Colma, San Mateo County, California

Military service

Service number
19140409
Rank
Sergeant
Function
Left Waist Gunner
Unit
578th Bombardment Squadron,
392nd Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
29 April 1944
Place of death
Near the Farmhouse of Willy Gudehus
East Meitze, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Walls of the Missing
* This soldier has been accounted for. A rosette has been placed next to his name.

Immediate family

Members
Jacques B. Bonnassiolle (father)
Marie Y. (Bayet) Bonnassiolle (mother)
Andrew J. Bonnassiolle (brother)
Ann Bonnassiolle (sister)
Yvonne Kelley (half-sister)
Paulette Kelley (half-sister)
Victoria Kelley (half-sister)

Plane data

Serial number
42-110105
Data
Type: B-24H
Destination: Berlin, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the city
MACR: 4446

More information

Sgt John P. Bonnassiolle attended the University High School in Oakland, California.

He volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States in San Francisco, California on 19 October 1942.

The only returning crew eyewitness report stated briefly that this plane was seen peeling off after the enemy fighter attacks with the right elevator appearing to be badly shot up, and that no chutes were seen. There were no additional reports on the loss of this aircrew and ship in the MACR.

About an hour after the impact a bomb detonated in the wreckage sending debris far and wide through the little town.

In 2003, a German national located the crash site and discovered humain remains. U.S. military teams excavated the site in 2005 and 2007 and found additional remains and ID tags that matched the airmen. DNA analyses were also done. Due to the fact that it was impossible to identify each crew member separately, their remains were buried in a single casket at Arlington National Cemetery on 26 October 2011.

According to some sources, Sgt Bonnassiolle was buried on 17 August 2010 at Holy Cross Cemetery in his hometown, according to other sources he rests in the common grave at Arlington where other members of his crew also rest.

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, www.B24.net, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, Military.com, www.ancestry.com - Family Trees

Photo source: Peter Schouteten, www.ancestry.com - University High School Yearbook 1941