John B Wright
MilitaryImage stamped on reverse: ' Associated Pres.' [stamp], 'Reveiwed and Passed as censored '2 Feb 1943.' [stamp] and '246550.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'AMERICAN AIRMEN WHO MADE FIRST DAYLIGHT RAID ON GERMANY. Associated Press Photo shows:- Intelligence officers questioning members of a Fortress crew, the first to bomb Wilhelmshaven. Left to right: Major John B. Wright, Group Intelligence Officer of New York; Major Ralph Oliver, Operations Officer of Palo Alto Calif., Talking to Lt. Frank Yaussi of Glendale, Calif; Lt. R.J. Salitrink of Alhambra, Calif.; S/Sgt Donald Tunstall of Darlington, S. Carolina,; S/Sgt Raymond R. Erikson of Chicago; and S/Sgt Charles D. Hill of Baltimore. TET 254773. I243.' Censors have amended each occurence of 'Intelligence Officer' to read 'Officer.' Roger Freeman Collection
from caption
16 April 1942 he volunteered for war service. He went on active duty as a captain in the USAF and was ordered to Officers' Training School. In June 1942, he was sent to the AF Intelligence School at Harrisburg. Upon completion of this tour, he was assigned to the 306th BG and in August left the States aboard the Queen Elizabeth as assistant group intelligence officer.
Promoted to the rank of major in January 1943, he was subsequently transferred to the 1st BW as assistant chief of staff, A-2. In November 1943 he was given the silver leaf of lieutenant colonel and three months later was assigned to General Staff Corps, 1st BD. He was named director of intelligence, 1st AD, in September of 1944 and the following January was promoted to the rank of colonel. After participation in the air offensive against Normandy, Northern France, the Rhineland, Ardennes and Central Europe, Colonel Wright made a tour of France and Germany during April and May of 1945 on bomb damage survey.
A short time later, he was returned to the United States on a special project. In August, 1945, he was assigned to the 2nd AF and separated at Colorado Springs in September 1945.
Legion of Merit, Croix de Guerre with Palm, AM, Pres. Citation,
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Division
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Wing
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Died |
22 October 1974 | ||
Born |
Wadsworth, Nevada | ||
Buried |
Hewlett, New York |
Revisions
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Who's Who in the Eighth Air Force and/or Biographical Directory Command & Staff Officers Eighth Air Force 1942-45; First Over Germany pg. 52, 141, 149, 322-3;