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name
GOONAN, James Thomas - Date of
birth
3 June 1913 -
Age
31 - Place of
birth
Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania -
Hometown
Brooklyn, Kings County, New York
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
32979255 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Waist Gunner -
Unit
835th Bombardment Squadron,
486th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 2 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 | 1 | 29 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Thomas Goonan (father)
Alma (King) Goonan (mother)
Thomas Goonan (brother)
Maria Goonan (sister)
Alma Goonan (sister)
Agnes Goonan (sister)
Catherine Goonan (sister)
Anna Goonan (sister)
John Goonan (brother)
Joseph Goonan (brother)
Mary Goonan (sister)
Gerard Goonan (brother)
Charles Goonan (brother)
Francis Goonan (brother)
Frances M. (Walsh) Goonan (wife)
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
James Gooman attended high school for four years and was a clerk.He enlisted in New York City, New York on 4 July 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 the airplane exploded. The explosion tore of the left wing and broke the plane in two at the waist.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, WWII Draft Card, 1930/1940 Census
Photo source: Jac Engels, Storiesbehindthestars.org