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Military
Major John Marshall Toomey Pilot 376th BG KIA 31 January 1943
B-24D - Major John Marshal Toomey Pilot of the B-24D, 'Malicious' - Major Toomey gave his life for freedom in a running gun battle with German ground flak guns off the coast of Messina, Italy. After his B-24D bomber, 'Malicious' was hit multiple times by flak rounds, Major Toomey attempted to dich his bomber in the ocean. Several men were seen in the water, but none were found or rescued. Major Toomey was listed as MIA, Missing In Action - Mesina, Italy, - Jan 31, 1943 - by Susan Toomey Frost
Maj John Marshall “Jack” Toomey
BIRTH 19 Feb 1913
San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas, USA
DEATH 31 Jan 1943 (aged 29)
Messina, Città Metropolitana di Messina, Sicilia, Italy
BURIAL
North Africa American Cemetery and Memorial
Carthage, Tunis, Tunisia
On January 31, 1943, the day he was killed in action, Maj. John Toomey was the command pilot of the B-24D bomber #41-11603, named 'Malicious', assigned to the 9th Air Force, the 376th Bombardment Group, and the 513th Bombardment Squadron. As Major Toomey was piloting his B-24D, 'Malicious', on a combat mission to bomb the Messina Harbor in Sicily, he had two engines shot out of commission by German anti-aircraft flak batteries, but stayed on his bomb run and hit his target. His B-24 was, then, attacked by German fighter planes, and, after a running air battle, the Americans were forced to make a water crash landing into the Tyrrhenian Sea, twenty miles off the coast of Messina, Sicily. Crewmen in other aircraft in the area saw four to six men evacuate the plane into life rafts, but subsequent rescue flights were unable to locate the men. Maj. Toomey and his crew were all listed as Missing In Action, MIA.
Because his body was never recovered, Major John Toomey is memorialized on the Wall of the Missing at the North Africa American Cemetery and Memorial, Carthage, Tunis, Tunisia
John Toomey was from Austin, Texas. He received the Silver Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross with an Oak Leaf Cluster, the Air Medal, and the Purple Heart medals, for his flying skill and bravery in combat. He was just 29 years of age when he gave his life in the cause for freedom.
Military | Staff Sergeant | Radio Operator | 376th Bomb Group
Missing in Action on B-24 41-11603 'Malicious' on 31 January 1943, on a mission to Messina. His aircraft was hit by flak and forced to ditch in the sea.
Military | Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade) | Waist Gunner | 376th Bomb Group
Military | Staff Sergeant | Gunner | 376th Bomb Group
Missing in Action on B-24 41-11603 'Malicious' on 31 January 1943, on a mission to Messina. His aircraft was hit by flak and forced to ditch in the sea.
Military | Technical Sergeant | Engineer | 376th Bomb Group
Missing in Action on B-24 41-11603 'Malicious' on 31 January 1943, on a mission to Messina. His aircraft was hit by flak and forced to ditch in the sea.
Military | First Lieutenant | Navigator | 376th Bomb Group
Military | Staff Sergeant | Gunner | 376th Bomb Group
Missing in Action on B-24 41-11603 'Malicious' on 31 January 1943, on a mission to Messina. His aircraft was hit by flak and forced to ditch in the sea.
Military | Second Lieutenant | Bombardier | 376th Bomb Group
Missing in Action on B-24 41-11603 'Malicious' on 31 January 1943, on a mission to Messina. His aircraft was hit by flak and forced to ditch in the sea.
Military | Second Lieutenant | Co-Pilot | 376th Bomb Group
Group
Constituted as 376th Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 19 Oct 1942 and activated in Palestine on 31 Oct. Began combat immediately, using B-24 aircraft. Operated with Ninth AF from bases in the Middle East, Nov 1942-Sep 1943, and with Twelfth AF from Tunisia...
Squadron
B-24 Liberator
One of 23 B-24 Liberators assigned to the Halverson Detachment (HALPRO) which departed the US in May 1942 to join the 10th Air Force in the China, Burma, India Theatre of operations. The HALPRO aircraft were then assigned to the 376th Bomb Group when...
| Event | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Born | San Antonio, TX, USA | 19 February 1913 |
| Died | Messina, Province of Messina, Italy | 31 January 1943 |
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On January 31, 1943, Toomey was pilot of B-24D #41-11603 named 'Malicious', assigned to the 9th Air Force, 376th Bombardment Group, 513th Bombardment Squadron. Malicious was the lead plane on a combat mission to bomb Messina Harbor in Sicily. Two engines were knocked out of commission by anti-aircraft artillery, but they stayed on their bomb run and hit their target. They were then set upon by German fighter planes and after a running battle, were forced to make a water crash landing into the Tyrrhenian Sea, twenty miles off the coast of Messina, Sicily. Crewmen in other aircraft saw four to six men evacuate the plane into life rafts, but subsequent rescue flights were unable to locate the men. Because his body was never recovered, he's memorialized on the Wall of the Missing. Toomey was from Austin, TX. He received the Silver Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Air Medal and the Purple Heart. |
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| Buried | ||
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No Known Grave |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
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| 26 January 2021 09:15:23 | Kickapoo | Changes to biography |
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FindAGrave - Major John Marshal Toomey |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 26 January 2021 09:10:07 | Kickapoo | Changes to biography |
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FindAGrave - Major John Marshal Toomey |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 26 January 2021 09:04:01 | Kickapoo | Changes to biography |
| Sources | ||
FindAGrave - Major John Marshal Toomey |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 26 January 2021 08:38:55 | Kickapoo | Changes to biography |
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FindAGrave - Major John Marshal Toomey ---- B-24 Best Web - 'Malicious' |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 26 January 2021 07:58:44 | Kickapoo | Changes to role |
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FindAGrave - Maj. John Marshal Toomey |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 26 January 2021 07:55:50 | Kickapoo | Changes to biography |
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FindAGrave - Maj. John marshal Toomey |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 19 February 2018 21:47:08 | Susan2meFrost | Changes to nickname |
| Sources | ||
I am the daughter (and only child) of Jack Toomey |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 06 November 2016 23:35:15 | 466thHistorian | Changes to place associations |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 06 November 2016 22:19:36 | 466thHistorian | Created entry with surname, middlename, firstname, nationality, service number, highest rank, role, events, unit associations, place associations and media associations |
| Sources | ||
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=56250863 |
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