World War II Honoree

John Paul Quinn

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Kenmore, New York

Honored By

Sam E. Pennartz

ENLISTED IN THE ARMY AIR CORPS ON 2 DECEMBER 1942 AT BUFFALO, NEW YORK. UNDERWENT B-29 AIRCRAFT TRANSITION AND COMBAT CREW TRAINING AT GREAT BEND ARMY AIR FIELD, KANSAS. DEPLOYED TO THE CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATRES OF OPERATION AND WAS ASSIGNED TO 20TH AIR FORCE, XXI BOMBER COMMAND, 73RD BOMB WING, 498TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP, 875TH BOMB SQUADRON STATIONED AT ISLEY FIELD ON SAIPAN IN THE MARIANA ISLANDS. ON 3 JANUARY 1945, HE FLEW AS AN AERIAL GUNNER IN THE TAIL STATION ABOARD A BOEING B-29 SUPERFORTRESS, TAIL CODE T-SQUARE-42 (SERIAL #42-24748). IT WAS ONE OF 97 AIRCRAFT LAUNCHED IN A MULTI-GROUP FORMATION TO BOMBARD THE PORT FACILITIES AND URBAN AREAS OF NAGOYA, JAPAN. FLAK FROM ANTI-AIRCRAFT ARTILLERY WAS MEAGER, AND ENEMY FIGHTER AIRCRAFT ATTACKS WERE DESCRIBED AS MODERATE, WITH 346 PASSES REPORTED. HE WAS KILLED ON THE RETURN ROUTE HOME, WHEN HIS AIRCRAFT CRASHED, EXPLODED, AND BURNED ON THE VOLCANO ISLAND OF ANATAHAN ABOUT 63 MILES NORTH OF SAIPAN.