World War II Honoree
Killed in World War II
John Frederick Putman
Branch of Service
U.S. Army Air Force
Hometown
Lidgerwood, North Dakota
Honored By
Sam E. Pennartz
Pilot (right seat), B-17E Flying Fortress serial #41-2435, 28th Bomber Squadron, 19th Bombardment Group (H), V Bomber Command, Fifth Air Force, U.S. Army Air Forces, Pacific Theatre of Operations. On 2 August 1942, he took-off from 7-Mile Drome near Port Moresby as the Pilot of B-17E Flying Fortress serial #41-2435 searching for a Japanese naval convoy near Buna. His B-17E bomber was attacked by a band of Mitsubishi A6M2 'Zero' long-range fighter aircraft, and shot down; crashing into the Solomon Sea just off Cape Ward Hunt, Papua New Guinea. Initially listed as Missing in Action, he was not declared Killed in Action until 7 January 1946.