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| Sgt. John Waldren was the ball turret gunner in B-17 42-102645 with the 365th Bombardment Squadron. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/149213563/john-rowe-waldren http://www.americanairmuseum.com/media/31131 |
John Rowe Waldren never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.
He was born on June 6, 1919 in Tennessee. His parents John and Maggie were also both born in Tennessee. His father worked as a telephone company manager and later as a policeman. John had one older sister. By 1940 John had completed high school and was working as a newspaper route district manager.
He volunteered for the Army Air Forces on April 1, 1942. He became a sergeant in the 365th Bombardment Squadron, 305th Bombardment Group which was equipped with B-17 Flying Fortresses. He was trained as a ball turret gunner. The 305th BG arrived in England in November 1942. Lt. Barnett likely joined his unit much later.
On August 9, 1944 Sgt. Waldren's plane was shot down by an enemy fighter near Zegelsem, Belgium. Sgt. Waldren and one other airman were killed. After the plane crash landed, four of the crew evaded capture and found their way back to England. The rest were captured by the Germans.
His grave is at Mount Hope Cemetery in Franklin, Tennessee.
Last year on this date I profiled POW Walter Crawford and his cavalry recon brother. You can read about the Crawford brothers here.
On behalf of the fallen, if you would like to see more people become aware of this project to honor the WW2 fallen, be sure to share with others on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Thanks for your interest!
I created this video to explain why I started this project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY.
Please consider joining the public Facebook group to increase the exposure of this project. Go to: WW2 Fallen 100
My Uncle, Eddie Kuhn, was the flight engineer on that plane.
ReplyDeleteHope he had a full life.
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