World War II Honoree

John W. Eldridge

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Elmira, New York

Honored By

John Meurs

Relationship

Dutch Historian

TECHNICAL SERGEANT. SERVICE NUMBER 32935514. SERVED AS AN ENGINEER WITH THE 491ST BOMB GROUP, 854TH BOMB SQUADRON OF THE 8TH U.S. ARMY AIR FORCES BASED IN ENGLAND. ON SUNDAY NOVEMBER 26, 1944 HIS BOMBER, THE B-24 'HOUSE OF RUMOR' SERIAL NUMBER 44-40271, WHILE ON A MISSION TO THE SYNTHETIC FUEL PLANT IN MISBURG, GERMANY, WAS ATTACKED OVER THE TARGET BY GERMAN FIGHTERS. SIX CREW MEMBERS SAVED THEMSELVES BY PARACHUTE. THE FOUR OTHERS, AMONG THEM THE HONOREE, WERE KILLED DURING THE ATTACK OR IN THE EXPLOSION OF THEIR AIRCRAFT. THEIR BOMBER CRASHED NEAR NORDSEHL IN GERMANY.