World War II Honoree

John A. Wright

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Schenectady, New York

Honored By

Sam E. Pennartz

ENLISTED AS A PRIVATE IN THE ARMY AIR CORPS ON DECEMBER 29, 1941 AT ALBANY, NEW YORK. COMPLETED PRIMARY FLIGHT TRAINING AND WAS COMMISSIONED A SECOND LIEUTENANT. ASSIGNED TO THE 27TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP, 17TH BOMB SQUADRON AND COMPLETED DOUGLAS A-20 AIRCRAFT TRANSITION AT HUNTER FIELD, GEORGIA. UNDERWENT A-20 OPERATIONAL COMBAT TRAINING IN MISSISSIPPI AND LOUISIANA. DEPLOYED VIA SOUTH AMERICA TO THE MEDITERRANEAN THEATERS OF OPERATION IN NORTH AFRICA. WHILE STATIONED AT KORBA AIRFIELD IN TUNISIA, THE 27TH BOMB GROUP WAS RE-DESIGNATED THE 27TH FIGHTER-BOMBER GROUP AND RE-EQUIPPED WITH THE NORTH AMERICAN A-36 APACHE DIVE-BOMBERS. HE FLEW HIS FIRST COMBAT MISSION OF THE WAR IN JUNE 1943. ON AUGUST 23, 1943, THE 17TH BOMB SQUADRON WAS RE-DESIGNATED THE 523RD FIGHTER BOMBER SQUADRON AND STATIONED AT BARCELONA, SICILY; AND SUBSEQUENTLY CAPACCIO AIRFIELD IN SOUTHERN ITALY. ON OCTOBER 2, 1943, HE FLEW AS THE PILOT ABOARD AN A-36A DIVE-BOMBER, SERIAL # 42-84145. IT WAS ONE OF SEVERAL FIGHTER AIRCRAFT ON A DIVE-BOMB MISSION OF GERMAN FORCES AT THE VOLTURNO RIVER CROSSINGS IN CAPUA, ITALY. WHILE DIVING TOWARD TARGET AREA N-0475, HIS AIRCRAFT WAS HIT BY FLAK FROM ANTI-AIRCRAFT ARTILLERY AND CRASHED NEAR CANCELLO, ITALY. HE WAS DECLARED KILLED IN ACTION ONE YEAR LATER.