John F Collins Jr
Military
359th Fighter Group collection
Photo courtesy Leon Levitt.
Archived by Char Baldridge, Historian, 359th Fighter Group Association.
Posted by Janet Fogg, 359th Fighter Group Historian.
Object Number - UPL 38411 - Photo L-R: Lt. John T. Marron, Capt. John F. Collins, Lt. Robert H. Elliot, Lt. Kenneth E. Barber, and three unidentified men, 368th Fighter...
Assigned to 368FS, 359FG, 8AF USAAF. Ended Tour of Duty (ETD).
Awards: AM (4OLC), WWII Victory, EAME (2 x Battle Stars).
Connections
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Units served with
![Three P-51 Mustangs of the 369th Fighter Squadron, 359th Fighter Group fly together in formation. The aircraft foreground to background are: (IV-P, serial number 44-14543) nicknamed "Precious Pat", piloted by Lieutenant Ralston; (IV-Z, serial number 44-15007) piloted by Lieutenant Klem; and (IV-D, serial number 44-15394). First handwritten caption on reverse: 'November 15 1944- 369th FS Lts. Ralston (P), Klem (Z), [illegible] (D).' Second handwritten caption on reverse: '15/11/44 369th Fighter Squadron, 3](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-377226.jpg.webp?itok=RQw6Mu-P)
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
8 July 1917 | ||
|
Enlisted |
24 February 1941 | Hartford, Connecticut | |
|
Other Promotion |
2 January 1945 | Promoted to 1st Lieutenant. | |
|
Other Promotion |
26 April 1945 | Promoted to Captain. | |
|
Died |
9 February 1972 | ||
|
Buried |
12 February 1972 | Rose Hill Memorial Park Rocky Hill, Hartford County, Connecticut | |
|
Other End Tour of Duty (ETD) |
Ended Tour of Duty (ETD). | ||
|
Based |
Assigned to 368FS, 359FG, 8AF USAAF. |
Revisions
I have my Fathers service records and have entered the missing data based on them. Photos were inherited from my parents
I am the son of Captain John F. Collins originally from Connecticut but now living in Maine. My Fathers nickname was Rip. I thought his plane was named little Rip but I don't see it on his last plane CVJ
My dad flew with him...they were buddies. Dad had a photo album with a few pictures and he had one of Skip. He is shown on page 32 from the publication: 359 Fighter Group 448th Air Service Group . My dad, Cornelius J Collins is also on page 32.
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Ted Damick, VIII Fighter Command pilots list / Unit History
