John J Askins Jr

Military
media-34825.jpeg UPL 34825 First Lieutenant John J Askins Jr, Pilot, 91st Bomb Group, The Ragged Irregulars.

Image courtesy of Michael & Paul Askins

Object Number - UPL 34825 - First Lieutenant John J Askins Jr, Pilot, 91st Bomb Group, The Ragged Irregulars.

First Lieutenant John J. Askins, Jr. was a pilot with the 91st Bomb Group, 401st Squadron (Bassingbourn). He and his crew primarily flew B-17G S/N 42-97851, the "Qualified Quail". This aircraft was badly damaged on a mission to Cologne on October 15th 1944. Askins was shot down near Westeroden, Germany on November 2nd 1944, while flying "USA The Hard Way", S/N 44-6093, on a mission to bomb the infamous "Leunawerkes" synthetic fuel plant near Merseburg. This mission resulted in the loss of 13 91st BG aircraft, one of the highest single-day losses of the war.



He recalled: ‘When we were hit, I didn’t realize it was flak but thought it was an explosion from a leaking gas line near the top turret. The cockpit immediately filled with smoke. I was able to reach the auto-pilot and steered the plane to the left, out of formation, to avoid striking another plane’. He bailed out, after rescuing his flight engineer, whose parachute had caught fire, and became a Prisoner of War, interred first at Stalag Luft III, near Sagan, and later at Stalag VIIA, near Moosburg.



The Silver Star was awarded to him in July 1988 after a recommendation from his crew mate, radio operator Roger Armstrong, for conduct during the bailout from their damaged B-17 on November 2nd 1944.



Further details on the experiences of Askins and his crew are detailed in Armstrong's book "USA The Hard Way". (Quail House Publishing, 1991).





Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

Unofficial emblem of the 91st Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-767031
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot
Roger Armstrong a, radio operator of the 91st Bomb Group with his B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-97851) nicknamed "Qualified Quail". A veteran has Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Roger Armstrong (Sioux Falls, S. Dak.), Radio Operator on "Qualified Quail." Shot down from 13th Air Base stationed at, on 13th mission, flew 1st mission on 13th Sept. 1944 and group lost 13 planes (including the spare plane we were flying) Nov. 2. 1944. (Meseberg). Lucky day, as plane that moved into the #3 position, on
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 17131144
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator
Hilmer Beicker of the 91st Bomb Group in the top turret of a B-17G Flying Fortress nicknamed "Qualified Quail". Printed caption on reverse of photo: 'Hilmer Beicker, Engineer on John Askin's crew. Note flak th[r]ough casting under left gun. Also patch ple[x]i-glass behind his head.'
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 38538861
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
Lieutenant Anthony Delaporto a navigator of the 401st Bomb Squadron, 91st Bomb Group with a camera. Printed caption on reverse of print: 'Anthony Delaporto, Navigator, Qualified Quail. Fall 1944. 91st Bomb Group. Country Club of the E.T.O. 1 of 3 not KIA or injured.'
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
Sergeant Roy Loyless, a tail gunner of the 91st Bomb Group in position inside B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-95851) nicknamed "Qualified Quail" at Bassingbourn. Printed caption on reverse: 'Roy Loyless, tail gunner on "Qualified Quail" 91st Bomb Grp. 401st, Sqd,'
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 38545285
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Qualified Quail
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron
A bomber crew of the 91st Bomb Group led by Lieutenant John J Askins, with their B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Qualified Quail". Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Crew of "Qualified Quail", Triangle-A, LL-K, Back Row: L to R; Antony Delaporto, Navigator; John J. Askins, Pilot; Randal Archer, Co-Pilot; Paul Collier, Bombardier. Front Row: Roger Armstron[g], Radio; Rob[er]t Webb, Ball Gunner; Hilmer Beicker, Engineer; Ralph Azevedo, Armorer/Gunner; Roy Loyless, Tail Gunner.
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: USA The Hard Way
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron

Missions

  • Date: 2 November 1944

Places

  • Site type: Prisoner of war camp
  • Known as: Stalag Luft III, Sagan, Germany
  • Site type: Prisoner of war camp
  • Known as: Stalag 7a, Moosburg

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Oakland, California 4 April 1922

Other

Prisoner of war

Zagan (Sagan) Poland 2 November 1944 - 29 April 1945 Interred initially in Stalag Luft III, near Sagan, later moved to Stalag VIIA, near Moosburg. Liberated from Stalag VIIA on April 29th 1945 by elements of the U.S. 14th Armored Division.

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Updated the location of the "POW" event per WW2 POW records at the National Archives (NARA).
Added a S/N from WW2 POW records at the National Archives (NARA).
Added an association to Stalag Luft 3 per WW2 POW records at the National Archives (NARA).

Date
Contributorpdaskins
Changes
Sources

Biography edited to include further background on Askins and where he was interred as a POW. Primary Source: "USA The Hard Way" by Roger Armstrong, (Quail House Publishing, 1991)

Date
Contributorpsan5722
Changes
Sources

This website

Date
Changes
Sources

Merged with duplicate entry to include details from:
- MACR 10141;
- Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database.

American Air Museum text from displays.

Date
Contributorpdaskins
Changes
Sources

Added service number, connections to other crew members, and last mission.
Paul Askins
(son of John J. Askins)

Date
Contributorpdaskins
Changes
Sources

I am in possession of the Silver Star and POW medals that were my father's, First Lieutenant John J. Askins, Jr. The Silver Star was awarded to him in July 1988 after a recommendation from his crew mate, Roger Armstrong, for conduct during the bailout from their damaged B-17 on November 2nd 1944.

Date
ContributorPat Flyer
Changes
Sources

B-17G QUALIFIED QUAIL by Patrick Milward

Date
ContributorPhillWray
Changes
Sources

Source : updated from American Air Museum caption

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 10141

John J Askins: Gallery (7 items)