World War II Honoree

John O. Berthold

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Oneida County, New York

Honored By

Sam E. Pennartz

CAPTAIN. ASSIGNED TO THE 5TH AIR FORCE, 49TH FIGHTER GROUP, 8TH FIGHTER 'BLACK SHEEP' SQUADRON. INITIALLY ACTIVATED AS THE 49TH PURSUIT GROUP (INTERCEPTOR) ON 20 NOVEMBER 1940 AT SELFRIDGE FIELD, MICHIGAN. THE 49TH FIGHTER GROUP MOVED TO MORRISON FIELD, FLORIDA FOR TRAINING. HE LEFT THE SAN FRANCISCO PORT OF EMBARKATION ON 12 JANUARY 1942 BOUND FOR THE PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS. DISEMBARKED ON 2 FEBRUARY 1942 AT PORT PHILLIP BAY IN MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA. WHILE OTHER SQUADRONS RECEIVED NEWER AIRCRAFT, THE 8TH FS RECEIVED THEIR 'HAND-ME-DOWN' AIRCRAFT. THE TROOPS, FEELING THAT THE 8TH WAS ON THE TAIL END OF THE SUPPLY LINE, BEGAN CALLING THE 8TH THE 'BLACK SHEEP' SQUADRON. ON 14 JUNE 1943 HE WAS RETURNING TO PORT MORESBY, NEW GUINEA AFTER AN R&R BREAK AT MACKAY, QUEENSLAND. HE DIED SHORTLY AFTER TAKE-OFF FROM MACKAY AIRFIELD WHEN A CONVERTED B-17C FLYING FORTRESS, BEING USED AS A TROOP TRANSPORT, CAUGHT FIRE AND CRASHED AT BAKERS CREEK, NEAR MACKAY, QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA. HE IS INTERRED AT THE WOODLAWN NATIONAL CEMETERY, ELMIRA, NEW YORK.