John Daniel Pratt


2nd Lt    0-748784    614th
Idaho
1923 - 1944

Co Pilot aboard 42-38162




Madingley cemetery, Camebridge, England.
Wall of missing
1923 - 1944






          John was born 1923, Montana.
          They later moved to this beautiful house in Lewiston, Nez Perce, Idaho.

                       

     He was a student at North Idaho teachers college.

     In Sept 1942, he enlisted to the air corps.
     He graduated from Luke field, Arizona were he recieved his wings and commission.

     In Nov 1943 he arrived in England to join the 401st BG

     He was awarded an air medal and two oakleaf clusters for meritorious achievement while participating
     in 15 separate combat missions over Europe.

     In a letter dated Apr 7, 1944, John wrote that he had almost completed his tour of 25 missions and
     intended to take instruction as a fighter pilot.

     His last mission, Apr 9, 1944, target: Marienburg , Germany, the Group was attacked by a number
     of FW 190's.
     The B-17 , piloted by Lt. William R. Dawes, had its nose blown off and was seen going into the Baltic sea

     There were no survivors of the crew, which was nearing the end of its tour.

     He was awarded with an Air Medal and a Purple Heart Medal

     In 1944, when John died on the age of 20 he left behind his family :

         His father, Phil Pratt, age 53
         His mother, Allene Pratt, age 48
         His sister, Jean Haworth / Pratt, age 22
         His brother, Philip Pratt, age 20




Marienburg, located in East Prussia, was the most distant target yet bombed by the 401st.
Enroute back from the target, while over the Baltic Sea, the Group was attacked by a number of FW 190's.
AC was seen going into the sea.





    While John was in England serving the 401st, his brother 2nd Lt phillip Pratt, 22, was a pilot on
    a B-24 liberator.
    He flew a mission to Hungary and unfortunatly his was also killed, Aug 23, 1944.

    The sister of John, Mrs. Jean Prtt / Haworth was married to John D. Haworth a filght instructor at,
    Corpus Christi, texas.
    He also was killed in a plane crash during a routine flight on Jan 23, 1944.

    So the pratt family lost 3 of their men in 1944, what a terrible blow for their parents and sister....



    

Thank you very much Jill Nock for providing the photo`s !!



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