John Joseph Ruppert

Military
media-33074.jpeg UPL 33074 John J. Ruppert, 447th Bomb Group Charles D Taylor collection

"Iowans of the Mighty Eighth", Chapter 22 "Biographies", by Charles D Taylor.

Object Number - UPL 33074 - John J. Ruppert, 447th Bomb Group

Assigned to 708BS, 447BG, 8AF USAAF. John had entered the Aviation Cadet programme in July 1943 but due to a surplus of pilots opted to train as a gunner. He joined the group at Rattlesden where he flew on 13 missions; on the last they made a forced landing on an old Luftwaffe airfield in France. The crew were sent to Paris until they could be collected -- meantime they had been classed as 'Missing in Action'.



Awards: AM (OLC), EAME, WWII Victory.

Connections

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

Units served with

The insignia of the 447th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 447th Bomb Group
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 447th Bomb Group
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 447th Bomb Group
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 447th Bomb Group
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Tail Wind
  • Unit: 447th Bomb Group 708th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 447th Bomb Group 708th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: American Beauty
  • Unit: 447th Bomb Group 708th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Bloody Bucket and Ol Boomerang
  • Unit: 447th Bomb Group 708th Bomb Squadron Headquarters (447th Bomb Group)

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Iowa City, IA, USA 14 June 1925 Born Iowa City, Iowa

Enlisted

Keesler Field, Biloxi, Mississippi 18 August 1943 Enlisted Keesler Field, Biloxi, Mississippi

Died

Iowa City, Iowa Died Iowa City, Iowa

Buried

Oakland Cemetery Iowa City, Iowa Interred Oakland Cemetery Iowa City, Iowa

Revisions

Date
ContributorHelen
Changes
Sources

Iowans of the Mighty Eighth

Date
ContributorRayWells
Changes
Sources

Added connections to crew

Date
ContributorRayWells
Changes
Sources

added connections

Date
Changes
Sources

"Iowans of the Mighty Eighth", Chapter 22 "Biographies", by Charles D Taylor.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Unit History Roster, Enlisted Men, as of 01 August 1945

John Joseph Ruppert: Gallery (2 items)