John R Patrick

Military
media-42318.jpeg UPL 42318 John R Patrick

Self explanatory

Object Number - UPL 42318 - John R Patrick

B-17E-BO AC#41-9032 piloted by Ralph Stinson, 'My Gal Sal' crash-landed along the coast of Greenland 27 June, 1942. All crew were rescued uninjured and plane was salvaged.



"John Patrick was my father. He was born April 14, 1921 in Belmont County, Ohio and was raised in New Philadelphia, Ohio. He talked about being at the Cleveland Air Show in 1939 (Labor Day weekend) and heard the news that Poland had been invaded. He enlisted the first chance he got on 13 January 1940. Being red/green color blind, he could not be a pilot as he often dreamed. Coming from a mechanical minded family, he was suited to aircraft maintenance. He was eventually assigned to the 97th Bomb Group and became Crew Chief for My Gal Sal.



My brother and I grew up hearing the stories from the Greenland Ice Cap. He did not talk much about the rest of the war in England, North Africa and Italy. While he never was in a combat situation, he worked to keep the planes flying and cheered when they came back home and cried when they did not return. When he passed away on 28 March 2011, he was the last surviving crew member of My Gal Sal.



Ground Crew Chief, 97th Bomb Group, 342nd Sq. Became Master Sergeant in Ohio Air National Guard. Called up to Korea but did not serve. Called up to Berlin Wall Crisis 1961-62, Etain, France. Civilian employee at Wright Patterson AFB from 1947-1982."



Awards: BSM, GC, WWII Victory, American Campaign and Defense, EAME (1 x Battle Star).

Connections

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Units served with

Ground personnel of the 97th Bomb Group reservice a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-9023) nicknamed "Yankee Doodle", following the raid on Rouen. Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 18 Aug 1942.' [stamp], 'Air=SER (Boeing).' [written annotation] and '216112.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'U.S FLYING FORTRESSES RAID ROUEN IN DAYLIGHT. Associated Press Photo Shows: No sooner had one of the huge Fortresses landed after the raid than ground crew im
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 97th Bomb Group 342nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 14067224 / O-415876
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: My Gal Sal
  • Unit: 342nd Bomb Squadron 97th Bomb Group

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Belmont County, OH 14 April 1921

Enlisted

13 January 1940

Died

28 March 2011

Buried

Willow View Cemetery Dayton, Montgomery County, OH Willow View Cemetery Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio

Based

Assigned to 342BS, 97BG,

Revisions

Date
Contributorfeigenblatt
Changes
Sources

Gravestone, military records

Date
Contributordecwriter
Changes
Sources

NARA files verified ASN upon entry, enlistment date and BSM awarded under GO 490/45/15th AF. He earned at least one bronze service star on the EAME Campaign Medal.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/132975787/john-r-patrick

Date
ContributorStephen Patrick
Changes
Sources

The story was written by John Patrick's son, Rev. Stephen Patrick of Dover, Ohio. Another son, Dennis Patrick of Kaufman, Texas, served 20 years in the United States Air Force - as a mechanic.

Date
ContributorRayWells
Changes
Sources

Correction to Biography

Date
ContributorRayWells
Changes
Sources

Addition to connections.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

97th Bomb Group Association, Inc., Roster - June 1, 2000, Losses of the 8th and 9th AF by Bishop and Hay p.14 / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia

John R Patrick: Gallery (2 items)