Johnny L Fisher
MilitaryRemoved associations not depicted in image. Associations made in person record.
My Dad served in the 8th Army Air Corp, 34th Bomb Group H during WWII from 42-45 & was stationed in Mendlesham England during his time of service. He flew 22 missions on a B-17 #43-37637 & was a Tail Gunner with crew members Courtney R Daniels (pilot), William O Jennings Jr (co-pilot), Thomas E Buchanan (navigator), Theodore T Beard (flight engineer), William Harben (radio operator), Elmer Gergley (ball turret / left waist gunner), Clarence W Grimm (nose gunner), Paul W Stoutsenberger (bombardier), Joseph J Schmidt (right waist gunner), Richard Kashishian (micky operator), & Steve W Bialas (crew chief). His crew was lead crew. Flying 22 missions is nothing more than miraculous given the fact that the average life expectancy of a Tail Gunner during WWII was under 4 minutes & no more than 4 missions equalling just two weeks. Lucky for my Dad, the war ended prior to flying any more missions. Had it not, he might not have been among the fortunate to have returned home. My Dad joined the Army Air Corp as a call of duty & served his country to protect its liberties & freedoms. He was a man of valor, honor & great courage. He was the kindest, most loving & genuine person I've known. Were it not for the bravery of men & women like him, we would not enjoy those liberties & freedoms we now have. My Dad will always be my Hero! The risks he took to defend his country were just as huge as the heart he had for those he loved. I'm proud of my Dad's service during WWII as a B-17 Tail Gunner. Medals Awarded for service:
Air Medal with 2 oak leaf clusters
American Campaign Medal
Good Conduct Medal
World War II Victory Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with 1 bronze star
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 34th Bomb Group 18th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Sergeant (RAF)
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Civilian
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 34th Bomb Group 4th Bomb Squadron
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 34th Bomb Group 18th Bomb Squadron
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 34th Bomb Group 18th Bomb Squadron 4th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 38546773
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 34th Bomb Group 4th Bomb Squadron
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Daniels
- Unit: 34th Bomb Group 94th Bomb Group 18th Bomb Squadron 332nd Bomb Squadron 4th Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 21 February 1945
- Date: 6 August 1944
- Date: 4 August 1944
- Date: 4 August 1944
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: RAF Mendlesham
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Premont Texas | 1 October 1925 | |
Enlisted |
Houston Texas | 6 December 1943 | |
Died |
Mesa Arizona | 11 August 2010 | |
Based |
Mendlesham |
Revisions
NARA file verified Air Medal with 2 oak leaf clusters. He earned at least one bronze star on the EAME Campaign Medal and possibly more, but personnel records would verify the count.
NARA enlistment record: https://aad.archives.gov/aad/record-detail.jsp?dt=893&mtch=1&cat=WR26&t…
1996 34th BG Roster / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia