John Henry Fetzer Jr
Military
Fighter Pilot
365th FG - 387th FS - 9th AF
2nd upload. photos continue to disappear.
Object Number - UPL 46790 - 1LT John Fetzer Fighter Pilot 365th FG - 387th FS - 9th AF
Connections
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Units served with
![Lieutenant Colonel Louis Houck of the 365th Fighter Group wearing a flying helmet with devil horns in the cockpit of his P-47 Thunderbolt nicknamed "Screamin' Weemie". Image stamped on reverse: 'Keystone Press.' [stamp]. Printed caption on reverse: 'AMERICAN FLYER WEARS "DEVIL'S HELMET" Lieutenant Colonel Louis Houck, 27, commander of a Ninth US Air Force fighter group, waves for contact after donning his "devil's helmet" for a mission against the Nazis. The flyer calls his plane "Screaming' Weemie". Keys](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-456675.jpg.webp?itok=5tRnsRWh)
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 365th Fighter Group 387th Fighter Squadron
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade)
- Role/Job: Aircraft Crew Chief
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
- Nicknames: The Madam
- Unit: 365th Fighter Group 387th Fighter Squadron
Places
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Shreveport, LA | 29 April 1920 | |
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Died |
Shreveport, LA | 3 February 2015 | Shreveport, LA - John Henry Fetzer Jr. was born on April 29, 1920. Due to the death of his mother, Cora Bowman Fetzer in childbirth, John and his twin brother Bowman were raised by their grandmother Rose Dorr Fetzer and her second husband, Fred L. Boanno Sr. During the Great Depression and at a young age the twins began working in the family business, the Fetzer Grove Dairy, located on Lakeshore Drive (formerly Fetzer Avenue) on the west side of Shreveport. John graduated from Fair Park High School and attended Louisiana State University from 1939 through 1941. While at LSU he was a trainer for the football team. At the advent of World War II John enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Forces. He graduated from Advanced Flight School in June 1943 and subsequently served in the 365th Fighter Group of the 9th Air Force as a P-47 pilot and flew deep into Germany escorting the B-17 and B-24 heavy bombers. On and after D-Day his P-47 fighter group provided air and ground support for the Allied Troops, including those of General Patton. His twin brother, Bowman, was killed in an accident at Ellington Field in Houston while training to be a navigator in January 1944. John owned and operated several businesses. He was a member of Broadmoor Baptist Church and the Berean Sunday School class. He loved to hunt and fish with his family and friends and he loved LSU. In addition to his twin brother, John was preceded in death by his wife of 72 years, Helen Haywood Fetzer, his parents, John Henry Fetzer Sr. and Cora Ann Bowman Fetzer, his grandparents, John Nicholas Fetzer, Rose Dorr Fetzer Boanno and Fred L. Boanno Sr., and his brother Edward V. Fetzer. He is survived by his children: John Henry Fetzer III and wife Glynda Boyles Fetzer, Cathy Fetzer McDaniel and husband Robert Henry McDaniel, Campbell Bowman Fetzer and wife Deborah Mahlen Fetzer, Helaine Fetzer Smith and husband Charles Daniel Smith |
|
Buried |
Shreveport, LA | 7 February 2015 | Forest Park East Cemetery Shreveport, Caddo Parish, Louisiana, USA |
| Shreveport, LA | 2024 Carrie Street |
