John Corlis Campbell was born on May 25, 1923, in Sherwood, North Dakota. He was the son of John C. Campbell and Edith Munro Campbell.

John Corlis served in the 407th Bomber Squadron, 92nd Bomber Group, Heavy, as a First Lieutenant and Pilot on the B-17 #42-107012 during World War II.

On April 30, 1944, at 06:00h, his crew took off from Station 109 airfield in Podington, England, on a bombing mission to Lyon-Bron airfield in France. At 04:48 PM, their plane was shot down by six enemy fighters which knocked out the oxygen, completely destroyed the electrical system, and caused severe damage to the cockpit. The warning system was also knocked out, then the crew was advised to bail out. The plane crashed at a place called La Vacherie Le Luet in the commune of Neuvy-en-Sullias in France. Three crew members were able to bail out, but those who didn't make it perished in the incident (including 1Lt Campbell). Of the three survivors, two were captured by the Germans; the remaining one evaded the capture.

1Lt Campbell is now buried in the Epinal American Cemetery, Dinozé, France.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, francecrashes39-45.net, www.abmc.gov