Personnel

CREW



1st Lt Ralph D.Horne,Jr      P POW   19/5/44  BERLIN

1st Lt John M.McGrath     CP POW   19/5/44  BERLIN sn# 0697436                                                   

2nd Lt Douglas L.Hiley     NAV POW 19/5/44  BERLIN

2nd Lt Jack T.Evans       BOM POW 19/5/44  BERLIN  TAPS: 16 MAR 1990

S/Sgt Robert L.Fosdick   TTE  POW 19/5/44  BERLIN  TAPS: 08 FEB 1979

S/Sgt Lawrence C.Wiley  ROG POW 19/5/44  BERLIN TAPS: 10 NOV 1975

Sgt Carlee G.Hunt           BTG POW 19/5/44  BERLIN TAPS: 30 MAY 1950

Sgt Joseph Perinsky,Jr.   RWG POW 19/5/44  BERLIN  TAPS: 22 JAN 1971                             

Sgt Shelly M.Hall,Jr.        LWG POW   19/5/44  BERLIN                                                           

Sgt Joseph G.Staron,Jr.    TG POW 19/5/44  BERLIN  TAPS: 25 JUL 1969



349th Sqdn.  Crew,as above,joined the 100th Group on 9/3/44.

MACR #4948 Micro fiche #1768

A/C #42 97607



Little specific information to the 1oss of this a/c is available. The following is quoted from a letter from Birger Hansen of Copenhagen,Denmark to this writer in March 1984:..jb



"An unknown a/c was observed under control and apparently in no serious trouble at 1508 hours near 5420N   1200E heading for Sweden. The a/c had passed  Lolland Island just shortly before it was hit by FW 190s. The pilot managed to ditch the a/c 8 km south of Glacno Island,and the crew successfully paddled ashore in the dinghys.  Standard ditching  procedures were used with all but the pilot and co-pilot in the radio room. Thre were no injuries from the combat action or the ditching except for a slight scratch on Sgt Joseph G. Staron's head. Lt's Horne and Evans and T/Sgt's Willey and Fosdick were taken POWs in Nyrup town on the 20th May at 0900 hours and the rest of the crewmembers became POWs in Snedinge town the same day at 1000 hours."  The crew was on their 20th mission,  having flown their first mission too  MARQUISE, MIMMOYEQUES (NOBALL) on 19 Mar 1944.



EMAIL = jackandrita@optonline.net

UNAME = John M Mc Grath

CONNECTION = I am a 100th veteran



FEEDBACK = Feedback:"I would like to correct and add to the bio of my crew under 349th SQ- crews. Ralph and I were both 

1st Lieutenants when we were shot down. It was also our 20th mission.  We were hit by FW190's from 12 o'clock high. The number 3 and 4 engines were hit and lost all power. We tried to feather the two props but to no avail. That's why we looked like we were in no serious trouble.  As we dropped out of formation we were attacked from the rear. The tail sedction was severly damaged. How Joe Staron escaped with a scratch is a miracle. As I glanced out my side window the FW190 was overtaking us and was no more than 20 yards off our right wing. He must have been  wounded, no sane pilot would come that close and slow. He continued slowly to pass us and continued in a slow left turn in front of us where the bombardier and navigator finished him. We were losing altitude fast and our navigator said with our rate of decent we would never reach the channel, but we might reach Sweden. We opted for Sweden but never made it. We ditched as stated, were captured in Denmark and spent the rest of the war in various German POW camps"



Mission List of 1st Lt John M. McGRATH, CP 



1.   19/03/44   MARQUISE, MIMMOYEQUES (NOBALL)

2.   22/03/44   BERLIN

3.   28/03/44   CHATEAUDUN

4.     8/04/44   QUACKENBRUCK

5.   10/04/44   MALDEGEM (RHEIMS)

6.   11/04/44   ROSTOCK

7.   12/04/44   LEIPZIG

8.   13/04/44   AUGSBURG

9.   19/04/44   LIPPSTADT

10. 20/04/44   FLOTTEMANVILLE

11. 22/04/44   HAMM

12. 24/04/44   NECKARSULM

13. 26/04/44   BRUNSWICK

14. 27/04/44   FLOTTEMANVILLE (NOBALL)

15. 27/04/44   LeCULOT

16.  1/05/44   WIZERNES (NOBALL)

17.  1/05/44   SAARGUEMINES

18.  7/05/44   BERLIN

19.  9/05/44   COUVRON

20. 19/05/44  BERLIN (SHOT DOWN)







John M. McGrath, of White Plains, passed away on Wednesday, December 29, 2010 at the age of 87. He was born April 20, 1923, the son of Michael and Kathryn (Burke) McGrath and was a graduate of White Plains High School. Jack was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Rita, brother Thomas, children Jim, Kathy, John, and Gary, 13 grandchildren, and nine great grandchildren. Jack is predeceased by his sister, Mary. A First Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force, Jack served in World War II from 1942-1945 as a co-pilot in a B-17 Bomber with the 100th Bomb Group. He was shot down during his 20th mission and spent the last year of the war as a POW in Germany. Upon returning home from the war, he met Rita and began his 39-year career with New York Telephone. Jack thoroughly enjoyed retirement, playing golf, hosting numerous family barbecues, and embarking on many trips around the world with Rita. Visitation will be held on Sunday, January 2 from 2-4 and 7-9 PM Funeral Mass will be held Monday, January 3 at 10AM at Holy Name of Jesus Church in Valhalla. Contributions can be made on behalf of John McGrath to the 100th Bomb Group Foundation museum at https://www.100thbg.com/. MCMAHON, LYON & HARTNETT FH 491 Mamaroneck Avenue White Plains, NY 10605 (914)949-7777 mcmahonfuneralhome.com



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I am reporting the death of my father:

John Michael McGrath

50 Bellwood Road

White Plains, NY 10603





Died on December 29, 2010





Submitted by his daughter, Kathy Adams, 30 Hunter Road, White Plains, NY 10603 email:  kathy.adams@mac.com





John M. McGrath

StoryDiscussionJohn M. McGrath 

Posted: Friday, December 31, 2010 11:08 pm | (0) Comments 



Font Size:Default font sizeLarger font size. 

..WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. — John M. McGrath passed away Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2010, at Westchester Medical Center, after a year long battle with acute Leukemia.



Born April 20, 1923, in White Plains, he was the son of Michael F. and Kathryn (Burke) McGrath.



He was a graduate of White Plains High School.



Besides his parents he was predeceased by a sister, Mary and sister-in-law, Lucia McGrath.



Survivors include his loving wife of 62 years, his brother, Thomas (June) McGrath of Queensbury; sons: James (Debbie) McGrath of Queensbury, John McGrath of White Plains and Gary (Joan) McGrath of California; daughter, Kathy (Craig) Adams of White Plains; 13 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.



"Jack" enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1942, serving as a B-17 co-pilot, 100th Bomb Group, 8th Air Force. He was shot down on his 20th mission. He and the crew survived as Prisoners of War in Germany for a year. Liberated, discharged, he began employment with New York Telephone Company retiring after 41 years as an O.S.P. engineer.



Jack enjoyed travel with his wife, Rita around the world and enjoyed the Adirondacks. He enjoyed family barbecues and golf. Family and friends will remember Jack as a gentleman, kind and considerate to all.



Visiting hours will be Sunday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at McMahons, Lyon Hartnet Funeral Home, 491 Mamaroneck Ave., White Plains, N.Y.



A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Monday, Jan. 3, at Holy Name of Jesus Church, Valhalla, N.Y.



Donations in Jack's memory may be made to a charity of one's choice.

Crew's 21st Mission.  Aircraft ditched near Glacno Island and crew succesfully paddled ashore on dinghys.  Entire crew was captured and POW.