John Q. WEST Jr

 

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ARMY SERIAL NUMBERO-413177
AGE24 yo
DATE OF BIRTH11 August 1919
STATEMISSISSIPPI
FAMILYMaried:Ruby D
Son: Johnnie
Sisters: Marjorie & Josephine
RANKCaptain
FONCTIONPilot
JOB before ENLISTEMENT--MISSISSIPPI
DATE of ENLISTEMENT--
SQUADRON598th Bomber Squadron
GROUP397th Bomb Group - Medium
ARMY9th US Air Force
DATE OF DEATH1 August 1944 west john tombe
STATUSKIA
PLACE OF DEATHThe farm Jouflinière - Meignanne - 12 Km of Angers
DATA PLAN

B-26 Marauder - type G-1-MA - s/n 43-34126

Mission: Angers (49) - Bridge Destruction
Take Off: Station 168 - Rivenhall, Essex UK


B 26

CEMETERY TEMPORARYCEMETERY TEMPORARY of  St James N°3578
CEMETERYBRITTANY AMERICAN CEMETERY from St James

Map Brittany  American Cemetery

GRAVE
PlotRowGrave
P 4 17
DECORATION
Distinguished Flying CrossPhoto FDLM
Air Medal + 6 OLCPhoto FDLM

 

usaf 9af 397bg 598bs
STORY
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Valentin Gascher tells you about Captain John Quinn WEST 

Today I am talking about a hero who found death next to my home, on the family lands on August 1, 1944 Captain John Quinn West.

On the first of August 1944 a formation of 36 B26 Marauder of the 397th Bomb Group will have to bomb the bridge SNCF which is at the town of “Les Ponts de Cé” (49).

The formation is being hunted down by the Luftwaffe which had patrol aircraft in this area the "By Golly" aircraft leading the second formation will be targeted repeatedly.

Capt West asks his crew to jump in emergency on the side of Bécon les Granits (small village about 15km from the crash), they will do it except the Lt Cramer whose parachute had partially burned and which at the same time would begin to lose consciousness due to toxic smoke from the fire, it will therefore be unable to perform this task.

As a precaution the captain drops the 4 bombs of the aircraft and continues his way in order to attempt an emergency landing. The plane comes in fires above La Meignanne, remains fall from the sky, the plane drags behind him a thick smoke and one of the engines make lots of noise.

The people present at this moment (including my great uncle aged 15 years) will see the plane distinctly approaching them, then see two bodies falling from the bomber in fires.

The captain and the lieutenant had died asphyxiated and partly burned in the aircraft even before the impact on the ground of Anjou.

Captain John Quinn West is now buried in the St. James Brittany American Cemetery: P -4 -17. Lieutenant Cramer's body was repatriated to the USA. 

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For more informations Do not hesitate to contact me. facebook1


Crew of B 26 Marauder "By Golly"

Captain John Q WEST Jr Pilot Dead west team
1st Lieutenant William C BUDGE Co-Pilot Wounded - Taken at Hopital de Tours
2nd Lieutenant Douglas H CRAMER Navigator Dead
1st Lieutenant Fred James DAOUST Bomber Prisoner - Stalag 7A Moosburg Bavaria 48-12
T/Sgt Chester Joseph NATANEK Radio
Mécanique
Prisoner - Stalag 7A Moosburg Bavaria 48-12
S/Sgt Harold ZOLA Mechanic
Gunner
Prisoner - Stalag Luft 4 Gross-Tychow
S/Sgt Edward B PICKLESIMER Gunner Prisoner - Neck injured after jump - Hospitalized at Le Mans
Sgt Jacob W BRINN Gunner Escape
S/Sgt Lloyd Thomas WEBB Prisoner - Stalag Luft 4 Gross-Tychow

John Q WEST Jr & Stèle

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1st August 2017, the drama is still in my memory. Valentin Gascher


John Q WEST Jr & Livres

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John Q WEST Jr & La Presse

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INFORMATION SOURCESJean BRANCA - Francecrashes39-45.net
PICTURE SOURCEFrédéric LAVERNHE - Jean BRANCA - Nara - Monty McDaniel - Valentin GASCHER
PROGRAMMERFrédéric & Renaud
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Comments  
# RE: WEST John Q Jr - 598 BS 397 BGC. Picklesmer 2017-02-10 02:07
My father, Ed Picklesimer, broke his neck, not his leg.
Reply
# Thank YouAmy 2017-09-25 15:54
Thank you so much for this information - I recently found out about Captain West - he is my first cousin twice removed. The pictures and information here are invaluable and I have shared them with my family.
Reply
# merciFred 2017-09-25 19:53
what pleasures to be able to share with you, even more pleasure to be able to pay them tribute
Reply