|
|
 |
John Prior, WWII
|
| |
| Recent Address: |
|
551 Oakland, Birmingham, MI 48009 |
| |
| Email: |
|
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
|
| |
| Family Information: |
|
Parents: Marie and Granville; Wife: Frances; Children: Linda, Stephen, Greg, Dan; Siblings: Jane, Stanton, Paul |
| |
| Hometown: |
|
Columbus, OH |
| |
| Date Entered Service: |
|
1943? |
| |
| Service Number: |
|
02079097 |
| |
| Bomb Group: |
|
462nd Bomb Group |
| |
| Squadron: |
|
770th Bomb Squadron |
| |
| Location of Unit: |
|
Tinian; May 1945 |
| |
| Missions Flown: |
|
5 combat, 2 show of strength |
| |
| Hump Missions Flown: |
|
|
| |
| Targets: |
|
Hachiogi,Okayama, Saga, Fukuyama, Hikari Arsenal (last mission of war), Show of Strength over Tokyo, and during signing of surrender |
| |
| Awards/Decorations: |
|
|
| |
| Service Schools Attended: |
|
AAF NavigationSchool-San Marcos, TX 1944; Alamogordo, NM Air Base 1945 |
| |
| Military Specialty(ies): |
|
MOS 1034-Navigator |
| |
| Rank Upon Discharge: |
|
1st Lt. |
| |
| Crew Type: |
|
Flight crew |
| |
| Airplane Serial No.& Name: |
|
Ole Tex |
| |
| Were you a POW? |
|
No |
| If so, where? |
|
|
| |
| Were you interned? |
|
No |
| If so, where? |
|
|
| |
| Date Transferred from the 58th: |
|
End of War |
| |
| Date Discharged from the 58th: |
|
Oct 13, 1946 |
| |
| Post-WWII Military Service: |
|
Went from West Field, Tinian to North Field, Tinian with 313th. Eventually went to Clark Field in the Philippines. |
| |
| Post-WWII Civilian Occupation(s): |
| Graduated in Mechanical Engineering from Ohio State University and worked 30 years for General Motors. Enjoyed 17 years of active retirement before dying suddenly and unexpectedly on August 13, 1999. He had made plans to return to Tinian on Aug. 12, 1999. |
| |
| Thoughts on the 58th Bomb Wing: |
| I hope Dad is OK with what I write here. He was proud to have served and felt a close bond with his crew. He always liked the look and sound of the B-29. He was sorry the whole war had to happen. "War is always the devil's delight" was something he said more than once. The civilian victims of the war bothered him. He was a proud American and B-29 veteran but wished wars had ended with WWII, as unfortunately they have not. |
| |
| Comments: |
|
|
|
