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name
WISE, John Benjamin - Date of
birth
24 May 1920 -
Age
24 - Place of
birth
Robstown, Nueces County, Texas -
Hometown
Austwell, Refugio County, Texas
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-695578 -
Rank
First Lieutenant -
Function
Navigator -
Unit
835th Bombardment Squadron,
486th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Distinguished Flying Cross,
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
15 October 1944 - Place of
death
Wiehl, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| D | 6 | 44 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Ernest E. Wise (father)
Elsie (Hercek) Wise (mother)
Eugene E. Wise (brother)
Roy W. Wise (brother)
Harvey M. Wise (brother)
Merle M. Wise (sister)
Clyde L. Wise (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
43-38136 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Snow White
Destination: Cologne, Germany
Mission: Bombing of railroad facilities
MACR: 9491
More information
John Wise attended high school for four years and was a farmer. He joined the U.S. Army Reserve in San Antonio, Texas on 17 February 1943.The airplane was hit by flak over the target. One crew reported a wing breaking off before it entered a spin.
Two crew members survived and were taken prisoner, seven men were killed. They were initially buried at the cemetery of Oberbantenberg, Germany on 16 October 1944.
S/Sgt Crawford, one of the surviving crew members remembered that the entire crew was able to jump before hte airplane exploded. The explosion tore of the left wing and broke the plane in two at the waist.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.fold3.com
Photo source: Jac Engels, Storiesbehindthestars.org