John Eldridge “Johnny” Furrow Jr. was born on April 14, 1922, in Roanoke, Roanoke City, Virginia. He was the son of John Eldridge Furrow and Velira Gaines Walton Furrow. He was married to Julia Ruth Barnett Furrow. He served in the 603rd Bomber Squadron, 398th Bomb Group, Heavy, as a Staff Sergeant and Waist Gunner of B-17 #43-38895 during World War II.
On January 1, 1945, B-17 #43-38895 was lost over the North Sea due to engine failure. Around 10:10 AM, one engine exploded, causing a fire and forcing the pilot to ditch the aircraft approximately 112 miles from the English coast. The tail broke off during the water landing, and the aircraft quickly sank. Six crew members reached a life raft, but were unable to reach the tail gunner, who was separated by wind and waves. Air Sea Rescue units recovered six survivors. Three crew members were killed in action.
SSgt Furrow was reported Missing in Action and officially declared dead on January 1, 1945. His name is memorialized in the Tablets of the Missing in the Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial, Margraten, Eijsden-Margraten Municipality, Limburg, Netherlands. John E. Furrow's name is inscribed on the Anstey Window Memorial in Panel 1 (left), on Butterfly 4, in the top right wing (section B).
Source of information: www.americanairmuseum.com b17flyingfortress.de/, www.398th.org