World War II Honoree

John L. Cronkhite

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

St. Petersburg, Florida

Honored By

VFW Post 11242

SERVED IN NORTH AFRICA AS A B-17 FLYING FORTRESS BOMBER, PILOT. WHILE BOMBING THE TRIPOLI AIRDOME WHICH WAS HEAVILY DEFENDED BY BOTH FIGHTER PLANES AND ANTIAIRCRAFT GUNS HIS PLANE WAS HIT AND ONE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY WENT OUT AND SOON ANOTHER ONE QUIT AS WELL. THEY HAD A HARROWING FLIGHT BACK TO THEIR BASE BUT MADE IT BACK OVER TWO HOURS LATE AND ON THE WAY HOME THEY SHOT DOWN THE TOTAL OF SIX GERMAN FIGHTERS. THIS WAS HIS TWENTY-SECOND MISSION.