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| A B-24 from the 5th Bombardment Group where Sgt. Brand served. http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/160830-5th-bomb-group-b-24-liberator/page-2 |
John E. Brand could have been 100 years old today.
He was born on April 5, 1917 in New York. His parents were also both born in New York. His father was a broker. John had a younger brother and a younger sister. By 1940 his father had died and John no longer lived with his mother.
John enrolled in the Army Air Corp on August 4, 1941. He became a sergeant serving in the 23rd Bombardment Squadron, 5th Bombardment Group, 13th Air Force. By 1945, his unit was assigned to B-24s and operating out of the Philippines. It specialized in long-range over-water missions.
Nose art from the B-24 that Sgt. Brand was flying in the day he died.
http://acepilots.com/planes/nose-art-b24.html
He was flying on the Maiden Montana on March 12, 1945, most likely on a local bombing mission over Mindanao or Luzon. It did not return from it's mission that day. When the crew's remains were initially recovered, they were not able to separate who was who.
His remains were returned to be buried in a common grave with his crew mates at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St Louis, Missouri.
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I just came across this and saw this plane went down with it's crew in March of 1945. My Dad, Francis T. McLoughlin, flew aboard the Maiden Montana with the 5th Bomb Group, 23rd Squadron as a Flight Engineer / Top Turret Gunner. His overseas service ended 1 April 1945, so he must have been pulled off this craft shortly before it went down in March of '45. He often reflected on those who were lost "Why those men, why not me....", and now I see how close he came to being lost on that plane. He was one of the lucky ones, he came home, joined the NYC Fire Dept, retired as a Chief officer, married and raised 9 children, lived all of 97 years. We were blessed to have him come home, and we grieve now all the more for those who didn't. We don't have the names of his crewmates from the Maiden (named for the pilot's home state of Montana), but if by chance anyone recognizes John Brand in this photo, I'd love to know that. My Dad, by the way, is bottom row, far left.
ReplyDeleteWasn't able to attach a photo here.... contact me at TOMMCL54@gmail.com if you'd like me to email you a copy.
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