World War II Honoree

John J. Peddie

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Chicago, Illinois

Honored By

Michael Peddie

Relationship

Grandson

CAPTAIN. AS PART OF THE 9TH AIR FORCE TEAM, HE SERVED AS AN AIR FREIGHT ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER. HE WAS THE COMMANDING OFFICER OF THE FIRST AIR IN-TRANSIT DEPOT SQUADRON AT THE LARGEST ARMY AIR FREIGHT TERMINAL IN THE WORLD, LOCATED IN FRANCE, DURING WWII. THE IMPORTANCE OF THE WORK DONE BY HIM AND HIS SQUADRON WAS SHOWN BY ITS DIRECT SUPPORT OF COMBAT OPERATIONS. THE SQUADRON WORKED TO GET PRECIOUS MATERIAL ON ITS WAY TO THE FRONT LINES AND TO GET WOUNDED SOLDIERS TRANSPORTED BACK TO THE UNITED KINGDOM. UNDER THE WELL ORCHESTRATED COMMAND, THE SQUADRON PLAYED ITS PART DAILY BY RECEIVING, STORING AND DISTRIBUTING THESE VITAL MATERIALS THAT WERE USED TO BRING ABOUT PEACE WITH AN ALLIED VICTORY. 300 TONS OF FREIGHT WERE RECEIVED AND DISTRIBUTED DAILY. FIGURES SHOW THAT FROM JUNE 17, 1944 TO FEBRUARY 25, 1945 THERE WERE 50 MILLION POUNDS OF CARGO RECEIVED AND DELIVERED ON THE CONTINENT AND FIVE MILLION POUNDS OF CARGO WERE SENT TO THE UNITED KINGDOM.