He was killed while on a mission against the Juvicourt Air Field in France. The weather was extremely bad at the time in the Group's formation assembly area. Six aircrews had to abort the mission and return to Wendling while the other 29 planes managed to form up and carry out the raid.
Some accounts at the time were that his aircraft collided with B17 #42-107191, Tomahawk Warrior, from the 398th Bomb Group which eventually crashed near Lude Farm, Loudwater, near Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, killing the entire crew.
It was widely believed in Cheshunt that the pilot, 2nd Lieutenant John D. Ellis, deliberately steered the aircraft away from the town and in gratitude, the townspeople of Cheshunt and Waltham Cross erected a Memorial Plaque on the wall of the Visitors Building at Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial, England with an identical plaque in the library at Cheshunt.
The inscription reads:
"To these gallant American airmen who on August 12, 1944, sacrificed their lives to prevent their aircraft from crashing on our homes. The residents of Cheshunt and Waltham Cross in the County of Hertfordshire dedicate this plaque in grateful memory." The names of the ten crew are included.
Crash Details:
8.00am on 12 August 1944 Consolidated B-24H Liberator bomber (#42-95023, Call Letter "Y.h) of 577th Squadron, 392nd Bombardment Group (Heavy) from RAF Wendling in Norfolk crashed next to Maxwells Farm (51‹41Œ54N 0‹03Œ06W51.698328‹N 0.051610‹W), near Cheshunt killing all ten crew. The crash site lies just west of the A10 on the opposite side to Cheshunt (between the A10 and the New River). The Liberator burned fiercely for some time after the crash, and then exploded as the heat detonated the bombs. There were no fatalities on the ground, but a girl was hit by a piece of debris and was in a coma for some time, and the Albury Farm dog, which was in the meadow, was never seen again. The B198 road (first on the left of the A10 northbound after leaving the M25) which runs near the crash site has been renamed Lieutenant Ellis Way after the pilot had managed to avoid crashing into the nearby town. One of the firemen who attended the scene secured funding for a permanent crash memorial at the scene.
Casualty List with burial locations:
2nd Lieutenant John D. Ellis, ( Captain and Pilot)
Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial, England. Grave E-1-98
Findagrave Memorial No. 56289485
His home state was California; his awards included an Air Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters.
Flying Officer Samuel C. Stalsby, (Co-Pilot)
Alexandria National Cemetery, Pineville, Louisana, USA. Grave E-18
Findagrave Memorial No. 3213384
2nd Lieutenant Robert B. Cox, (Navigator)
Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial, England. Grave E-6-88
His home state was Ohio-awarded an Air Medal with Oak Leaf cluster, posthumously.
Findagrave Memorial No. 56288831
Staff Sergeant Clare Wilkes Hultengren, (G)
Fort Snelling National Cemetery Section C-25 Site 14268.
Findagrave memorial no. 3454208.
T/S Stanley F. Jankowski, (EnG)
Zachary Taylor National Cemetery, Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky. Section E Site 37.
Findagrave Memorial No. 3301253
T/S John H. Holling, (Radio Operator)
Zachary Taylor National Cemetery, Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky. Section E Site 37.
Findagrave Memorial No. 3300807
Staff Sergeant Frank Jr.Minick, (NMI) (LW)
Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial, England.Grave E-3-778
His home state was New Jersey with awards of an Air Medal and the Purple Heart.
Findagrave Memorial No. 56292555
Staff Sergeant Jay V. Cable, (BT) Radio Operator.
Interred Mount Vernon Cemetery, Elizabeth, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.
Findagrave Memorial no. 38099170.
Staff Sergeant Jack O. Shaeffer,(Tail Gunner)
Burial place unknown
Findagrave Memorial No. 60251886
Staff Sergeant William C.McGinley, (Tail Gunner)
Zachary Taylor National Cemetery, Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky. Section E Site 37.
Findagrave Memorial No. 3303085
Enlistment Army Service No. (ASN): T-002041
Some accounts at the time were that his aircraft collided with B17 #42-107191, Tomahawk Warrior, from the 398th Bomb Group which eventually crashed near Lude Farm, Loudwater, near Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, killing the entire crew.
It was widely believed in Cheshunt that the pilot, 2nd Lieutenant John D. Ellis, deliberately steered the aircraft away from the town and in gratitude, the townspeople of Cheshunt and Waltham Cross erected a Memorial Plaque on the wall of the Visitors Building at Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial, England with an identical plaque in the library at Cheshunt.
The inscription reads:
"To these gallant American airmen who on August 12, 1944, sacrificed their lives to prevent their aircraft from crashing on our homes. The residents of Cheshunt and Waltham Cross in the County of Hertfordshire dedicate this plaque in grateful memory." The names of the ten crew are included.
Crash Details:
8.00am on 12 August 1944 Consolidated B-24H Liberator bomber (#42-95023, Call Letter "Y.h) of 577th Squadron, 392nd Bombardment Group (Heavy) from RAF Wendling in Norfolk crashed next to Maxwells Farm (51‹41Œ54N 0‹03Œ06W51.698328‹N 0.051610‹W), near Cheshunt killing all ten crew. The crash site lies just west of the A10 on the opposite side to Cheshunt (between the A10 and the New River). The Liberator burned fiercely for some time after the crash, and then exploded as the heat detonated the bombs. There were no fatalities on the ground, but a girl was hit by a piece of debris and was in a coma for some time, and the Albury Farm dog, which was in the meadow, was never seen again. The B198 road (first on the left of the A10 northbound after leaving the M25) which runs near the crash site has been renamed Lieutenant Ellis Way after the pilot had managed to avoid crashing into the nearby town. One of the firemen who attended the scene secured funding for a permanent crash memorial at the scene.
Casualty List with burial locations:
2nd Lieutenant John D. Ellis, ( Captain and Pilot)
Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial, England. Grave E-1-98
Findagrave Memorial No. 56289485
His home state was California; his awards included an Air Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters.
Flying Officer Samuel C. Stalsby, (Co-Pilot)
Alexandria National Cemetery, Pineville, Louisana, USA. Grave E-18
Findagrave Memorial No. 3213384
2nd Lieutenant Robert B. Cox, (Navigator)
Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial, England. Grave E-6-88
His home state was Ohio-awarded an Air Medal with Oak Leaf cluster, posthumously.
Findagrave Memorial No. 56288831
Staff Sergeant Clare Wilkes Hultengren, (G)
Fort Snelling National Cemetery Section C-25 Site 14268.
Findagrave memorial no. 3454208.
T/S Stanley F. Jankowski, (EnG)
Zachary Taylor National Cemetery, Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky. Section E Site 37.
Findagrave Memorial No. 3301253
T/S John H. Holling, (Radio Operator)
Zachary Taylor National Cemetery, Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky. Section E Site 37.
Findagrave Memorial No. 3300807
Staff Sergeant Frank Jr.Minick, (NMI) (LW)
Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial, England.Grave E-3-778
His home state was New Jersey with awards of an Air Medal and the Purple Heart.
Findagrave Memorial No. 56292555
Staff Sergeant Jay V. Cable, (BT) Radio Operator.
Interred Mount Vernon Cemetery, Elizabeth, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.
Findagrave Memorial no. 38099170.
Staff Sergeant Jack O. Shaeffer,(Tail Gunner)
Burial place unknown
Findagrave Memorial No. 60251886
Staff Sergeant William C.McGinley, (Tail Gunner)
Zachary Taylor National Cemetery, Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky. Section E Site 37.
Findagrave Memorial No. 3303085
Enlistment Army Service No. (ASN): T-002041
He was killed while on a mission against the Juvicourt Air Field in France. The weather was extremely bad at the time in the Group's formation assembly area. Six aircrews had to abort the mission and return to Wendling while the other 29 planes managed to form up and carry out the raid.
Some accounts at the time were that his aircraft collided with B17 #42-107191, Tomahawk Warrior, from the 398th Bomb Group which eventually crashed near Lude Farm, Loudwater, near Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, killing the entire crew.
It was widely believed in Cheshunt that the pilot, 2nd Lieutenant John D. Ellis, deliberately steered the aircraft away from the town and in gratitude, the townspeople of Cheshunt and Waltham Cross erected a Memorial Plaque on the wall of the Visitors Building at Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial, England with an identical plaque in the library at Cheshunt.
The inscription reads:
"To these gallant American airmen who on August 12, 1944, sacrificed their lives to prevent their aircraft from crashing on our homes. The residents of Cheshunt and Waltham Cross in the County of Hertfordshire dedicate this plaque in grateful memory." The names of the ten crew are included.
Crash Details:
8.00am on 12 August 1944 Consolidated B-24H Liberator bomber (#42-95023, Call Letter "Y.h) of 577th Squadron, 392nd Bombardment Group (Heavy) from RAF Wendling in Norfolk crashed next to Maxwells Farm (51‹41Œ54N 0‹03Œ06W51.698328‹N 0.051610‹W), near Cheshunt killing all ten crew. The crash site lies just west of the A10 on the opposite side to Cheshunt (between the A10 and the New River). The Liberator burned fiercely for some time after the crash, and then exploded as the heat detonated the bombs. There were no fatalities on the ground, but a girl was hit by a piece of debris and was in a coma for some time, and the Albury Farm dog, which was in the meadow, was never seen again. The B198 road (first on the left of the A10 northbound after leaving the M25) which runs near the crash site has been renamed Lieutenant Ellis Way after the pilot had managed to avoid crashing into the nearby town. One of the firemen who attended the scene secured funding for a permanent crash memorial at the scene.
Casualty List with burial locations:
2nd Lieutenant John D. Ellis, ( Captain and Pilot)
Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial, England. Grave E-1-98
Findagrave Memorial No. 56289485
His home state was California; his awards included an Air Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters.
Flying Officer Samuel C. Stalsby, (Co-Pilot)
Alexandria National Cemetery, Pineville, Louisana, USA. Grave E-18
Findagrave Memorial No. 3213384
2nd Lieutenant Robert B. Cox, (Navigator)
Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial, England. Grave E-6-88
His home state was Ohio-awarded an Air Medal with Oak Leaf cluster, posthumously.
Findagrave Memorial No. 56288831
Staff Sergeant Clare Wilkes Hultengren, (G)
Fort Snelling National Cemetery Section C-25 Site 14268.
Findagrave memorial no. 3454208.
T/S Stanley F. Jankowski, (EnG)
Zachary Taylor National Cemetery, Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky. Section E Site 37.
Findagrave Memorial No. 3301253
T/S John H. Holling, (Radio Operator)
Zachary Taylor National Cemetery, Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky. Section E Site 37.
Findagrave Memorial No. 3300807
Staff Sergeant Frank Jr.Minick, (NMI) (LW)
Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial, England.Grave E-3-778
His home state was New Jersey with awards of an Air Medal and the Purple Heart.
Findagrave Memorial No. 56292555
Staff Sergeant Jay V. Cable, (BT) Radio Operator.
Interred Mount Vernon Cemetery, Elizabeth, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.
Findagrave Memorial no. 38099170.
Staff Sergeant Jack O. Shaeffer,(Tail Gunner)
Burial place unknown
Findagrave Memorial No. 60251886
Staff Sergeant William C.McGinley, (Tail Gunner)
Zachary Taylor National Cemetery, Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky. Section E Site 37.
Findagrave Memorial No. 3303085
Enlistment Army Service No. (ASN): T-002041
Some accounts at the time were that his aircraft collided with B17 #42-107191, Tomahawk Warrior, from the 398th Bomb Group which eventually crashed near Lude Farm, Loudwater, near Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, killing the entire crew.
It was widely believed in Cheshunt that the pilot, 2nd Lieutenant John D. Ellis, deliberately steered the aircraft away from the town and in gratitude, the townspeople of Cheshunt and Waltham Cross erected a Memorial Plaque on the wall of the Visitors Building at Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial, England with an identical plaque in the library at Cheshunt.
The inscription reads:
"To these gallant American airmen who on August 12, 1944, sacrificed their lives to prevent their aircraft from crashing on our homes. The residents of Cheshunt and Waltham Cross in the County of Hertfordshire dedicate this plaque in grateful memory." The names of the ten crew are included.
Crash Details:
8.00am on 12 August 1944 Consolidated B-24H Liberator bomber (#42-95023, Call Letter "Y.h) of 577th Squadron, 392nd Bombardment Group (Heavy) from RAF Wendling in Norfolk crashed next to Maxwells Farm (51‹41Œ54N 0‹03Œ06W51.698328‹N 0.051610‹W), near Cheshunt killing all ten crew. The crash site lies just west of the A10 on the opposite side to Cheshunt (between the A10 and the New River). The Liberator burned fiercely for some time after the crash, and then exploded as the heat detonated the bombs. There were no fatalities on the ground, but a girl was hit by a piece of debris and was in a coma for some time, and the Albury Farm dog, which was in the meadow, was never seen again. The B198 road (first on the left of the A10 northbound after leaving the M25) which runs near the crash site has been renamed Lieutenant Ellis Way after the pilot had managed to avoid crashing into the nearby town. One of the firemen who attended the scene secured funding for a permanent crash memorial at the scene.
Casualty List with burial locations:
2nd Lieutenant John D. Ellis, ( Captain and Pilot)
Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial, England. Grave E-1-98
Findagrave Memorial No. 56289485
His home state was California; his awards included an Air Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters.
Flying Officer Samuel C. Stalsby, (Co-Pilot)
Alexandria National Cemetery, Pineville, Louisana, USA. Grave E-18
Findagrave Memorial No. 3213384
2nd Lieutenant Robert B. Cox, (Navigator)
Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial, England. Grave E-6-88
His home state was Ohio-awarded an Air Medal with Oak Leaf cluster, posthumously.
Findagrave Memorial No. 56288831
Staff Sergeant Clare Wilkes Hultengren, (G)
Fort Snelling National Cemetery Section C-25 Site 14268.
Findagrave memorial no. 3454208.
T/S Stanley F. Jankowski, (EnG)
Zachary Taylor National Cemetery, Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky. Section E Site 37.
Findagrave Memorial No. 3301253
T/S John H. Holling, (Radio Operator)
Zachary Taylor National Cemetery, Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky. Section E Site 37.
Findagrave Memorial No. 3300807
Staff Sergeant Frank Jr.Minick, (NMI) (LW)
Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial, England.Grave E-3-778
His home state was New Jersey with awards of an Air Medal and the Purple Heart.
Findagrave Memorial No. 56292555
Staff Sergeant Jay V. Cable, (BT) Radio Operator.
Interred Mount Vernon Cemetery, Elizabeth, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.
Findagrave Memorial no. 38099170.
Staff Sergeant Jack O. Shaeffer,(Tail Gunner)
Burial place unknown
Findagrave Memorial No. 60251886
Staff Sergeant William C.McGinley, (Tail Gunner)
Zachary Taylor National Cemetery, Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky. Section E Site 37.
Findagrave Memorial No. 3303085
Enlistment Army Service No. (ASN): T-002041
Gravesite Details
Other crew names: 2nd L Robert B Cox,S Sgt Clare W Hultengren,T Sgt John H Holling,T Sgt Stanley F Jankowski,S Sgt Jay V Cable,S Sgt Jack O Shaeffer,S Sgt Frank Minick,S Sgt William C McGinley.
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