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World War II Honoree

Killed in World War II

John M. Rafferty

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Beaver County, Pennsylvania

Honored By

A Grateful American

Branch Seal
Activity During WWII

FIRST LIEUTENANT, PILOT, B-24 LIBERATOR, 400TH SQUADRON 'BLACK PIRATES', 90TH BOMB GROUP (JOLLY ROGERS), FIFTH AIR FORCE, IN THE PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS. LEFT PORT MORESBY ON A SINGLE BOMBER RECONNAISSANCE MISSION OVER WEWAK. HE WAS RETURNING AND ASKED THAT THE FIELD LIGHTS BE LIT AS THEY WERE APPROACHING THE AIRFIELD. THE AIRCRAFT NEVER LANDED AS IT CRASHED INTO A HILL BETWEEN MUMENG VILLAGE AND TSILI TSILI. ALL WERE DECLARED MISSING ON DECEMBER 20, 1942. MISSING AIR CREW REPORT 15388. AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART.