Son of Frank McLoughlin and Agnes Dickerson. Married Marjorie D. Cooper. Second Lieutenant, 564th Bomber Squadron, 389th Bomber Group, Heavy; U.S. Army Air Forces. Entered the service from New York. Served as a Bombardier on a B-24D Liberator nicknamed "Ole Kickapoo." Awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the Air Medal, and the Purple Heart.
Distinguished Service Cross citation reads: "The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to John A. McLaughlin, Second Lieutenant (Air Corps), U.S. Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Bombardier on a B-24 Heavy Bomber in the 564th Bombardment Squadron, 389th Bombardment Group (H), NINTH Air Force (Attached), while participating in a bombing mission on 1 August 1943, against the Ploesti Oil Refineries in Rumania. During a long and hazardous attack against a vital enemy oil installation made at low-altitude by a formation of B-24 type aircraft, Second Lieutenant McLaughlin acquitted himself with great skill as his aircraft flew through one of the most heavily defended areas of Europe. When the plane on which he served was severely damaged, and, despite the fact that gasoline was streaming from one of its damaged fuel tanks, continued on, in the face of almost insurmountable odds. Over the blazing target, Lieutenant McLaughlin, with heroic calm and unflinching loyalty, remained steadfast by his post to drop his bombs. The personal courage and devotion to duty displayed by Second Lieutenant McLaughlin on this occasion, at the cost of his life, exemplified the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the 9th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces." Headquarters: Ninth U.S. Army Air Force, General Orders No. 89 (1943)
Note: Name is spelled McLoughlin on U.S. Army Air Forces Missing Air Crew Reports (MACRs) and on grave marker.
Visit the virtual cemetery of the "Ole Kickapoo" Crew.
Distinguished Service Cross citation reads: "The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to John A. McLaughlin, Second Lieutenant (Air Corps), U.S. Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Bombardier on a B-24 Heavy Bomber in the 564th Bombardment Squadron, 389th Bombardment Group (H), NINTH Air Force (Attached), while participating in a bombing mission on 1 August 1943, against the Ploesti Oil Refineries in Rumania. During a long and hazardous attack against a vital enemy oil installation made at low-altitude by a formation of B-24 type aircraft, Second Lieutenant McLaughlin acquitted himself with great skill as his aircraft flew through one of the most heavily defended areas of Europe. When the plane on which he served was severely damaged, and, despite the fact that gasoline was streaming from one of its damaged fuel tanks, continued on, in the face of almost insurmountable odds. Over the blazing target, Lieutenant McLaughlin, with heroic calm and unflinching loyalty, remained steadfast by his post to drop his bombs. The personal courage and devotion to duty displayed by Second Lieutenant McLaughlin on this occasion, at the cost of his life, exemplified the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the 9th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces." Headquarters: Ninth U.S. Army Air Force, General Orders No. 89 (1943)
Note: Name is spelled McLoughlin on U.S. Army Air Forces Missing Air Crew Reports (MACRs) and on grave marker.
Visit the virtual cemetery of the "Ole Kickapoo" Crew.
Son of Frank McLoughlin and Agnes Dickerson. Married Marjorie D. Cooper. Second Lieutenant, 564th Bomber Squadron, 389th Bomber Group, Heavy; U.S. Army Air Forces. Entered the service from New York. Served as a Bombardier on a B-24D Liberator nicknamed "Ole Kickapoo." Awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the Air Medal, and the Purple Heart.
Distinguished Service Cross citation reads: "The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to John A. McLaughlin, Second Lieutenant (Air Corps), U.S. Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Bombardier on a B-24 Heavy Bomber in the 564th Bombardment Squadron, 389th Bombardment Group (H), NINTH Air Force (Attached), while participating in a bombing mission on 1 August 1943, against the Ploesti Oil Refineries in Rumania. During a long and hazardous attack against a vital enemy oil installation made at low-altitude by a formation of B-24 type aircraft, Second Lieutenant McLaughlin acquitted himself with great skill as his aircraft flew through one of the most heavily defended areas of Europe. When the plane on which he served was severely damaged, and, despite the fact that gasoline was streaming from one of its damaged fuel tanks, continued on, in the face of almost insurmountable odds. Over the blazing target, Lieutenant McLaughlin, with heroic calm and unflinching loyalty, remained steadfast by his post to drop his bombs. The personal courage and devotion to duty displayed by Second Lieutenant McLaughlin on this occasion, at the cost of his life, exemplified the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the 9th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces." Headquarters: Ninth U.S. Army Air Force, General Orders No. 89 (1943)
Note: Name is spelled McLoughlin on U.S. Army Air Forces Missing Air Crew Reports (MACRs) and on grave marker.
Visit the virtual cemetery of the "Ole Kickapoo" Crew.
Distinguished Service Cross citation reads: "The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to John A. McLaughlin, Second Lieutenant (Air Corps), U.S. Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Bombardier on a B-24 Heavy Bomber in the 564th Bombardment Squadron, 389th Bombardment Group (H), NINTH Air Force (Attached), while participating in a bombing mission on 1 August 1943, against the Ploesti Oil Refineries in Rumania. During a long and hazardous attack against a vital enemy oil installation made at low-altitude by a formation of B-24 type aircraft, Second Lieutenant McLaughlin acquitted himself with great skill as his aircraft flew through one of the most heavily defended areas of Europe. When the plane on which he served was severely damaged, and, despite the fact that gasoline was streaming from one of its damaged fuel tanks, continued on, in the face of almost insurmountable odds. Over the blazing target, Lieutenant McLaughlin, with heroic calm and unflinching loyalty, remained steadfast by his post to drop his bombs. The personal courage and devotion to duty displayed by Second Lieutenant McLaughlin on this occasion, at the cost of his life, exemplified the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the 9th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces." Headquarters: Ninth U.S. Army Air Force, General Orders No. 89 (1943)
Note: Name is spelled McLoughlin on U.S. Army Air Forces Missing Air Crew Reports (MACRs) and on grave marker.
Visit the virtual cemetery of the "Ole Kickapoo" Crew.
Inscription
†
JOHN A. MC LOUGHLIN
2 LT - 564 BOMB SQ - 389 BOMB GP (H)
NEW YORK - AUG 3 1943
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