Loomis John Alfred, Jr.

Name:

John Alfred, Jr. Loomis

Rank:

First Lieutenant

Serial Number:

O-754920

Unit:

602nd Bomber Squadron, 398th Bomb Group

Date of Death:

1944-07-19

State:

New York

Cemetery:

Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial, Saint-Avold, Departement de la Moselle, Lorraine, France

Plot:

K

Row:

37

Grave:

37

Decoration:

Air Medal with Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart

Comments:

John Alfred Loomis Jr. was born on March 14, 1916, in Meadville, Linn County, Missouri. He served in the 602nd Bomber Squadron, 398th Bomb Group, as a First Lieutenant and Bombardier of B-17 #42-102511 during World War II.

On July 19, 1944, during its 24th mission, the aircraft participated in a bombing raid targeting the Lechfeld airfield near Augsburg, Germany. While en route to the target, the B-17 sustained a direct hit from enemy flak, which struck the #2 fuel tank. This impact caused the aircraft to explode mid-air, disintegrating over the village of Weil, near Epfenhausen, south of Augsburg. The explosion was so severe that only the tail section remained relatively intact, which was later photographed being inspected by German soldiers. Of the nine crew members aboard, eight were killed in action, and the sole survivor was captured by German forces and held as a prisoner of war.

1Lt Loomis was Killed in Action and is now buried in the Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial, Saint-Avold, Departement de la Moselle, Lorraine, France. John A. Loomis' name is inscribed on the Anstey Window Memorial in Panel 2 (center), on Butterfly 9, in the bottom right wing (section D).

Source of information: www.americanairmuseum.com, www.B-17flyingfortress.de, www.398th.org