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John E. Colwell

Waist Gunner
HometownGreenfield, IN

S/Sgt. John E. Colwell served as left waist gunner aboard B-24J 42-73495 on the 8 April 1944 mission to Brunswick, Germany. He survived the loss of the aircraft over the Island of Schokland and was taken prisoner. German records noted his birthdate as 2 July 1924 and his hometown as Greenfield, Indiana.

Colwell was transferred to Dulag Luft on 12 April 1944. His next of kin was his mother, Mrs. Lillian Colwell, Rural Free Delivery Number One, Greenfield, Indiana. His surname appears as 'Volwell' and 'Colnell' in some documents, but the correct spelling is Colwell.

Prisoner of War

Sortie Log

5 CATALOGUED SORTIES
25 FEB 1944 — 08 APR 1944

The sorties below are those we have been able to document for this airman, drawn from flight logs, mission records, and archival sources. It is not necessarily a complete account of every mission flown; gaps may reflect missing documentation, transferred assignments, or records lost to time.

8AF Mission
Date
Target
Aircraft
№ 235
25 FEB 1944
FürthA/I
42-100810
№ 237
28 FEB 1944
Target unrecorded
Georgia Peach42-40985
№ 244
02 MAR 1944
Frankfurt Am MainM/Y
Georgia Peach42-40985
№ 250
06 MAR 1944
GenshagenI/A
Ready and Willing41-24109
№ 291
08 APR 1944
Brunswick, Germany
B-24J serial number 42-73495, known as aircraft 495D, was lost on 8 April 1944 on a mission to Brunswick, Germany. The aircraft departed AAF 104 (Hardwick) and was last seen at approximately 53°25'N 05°46'E over the Island of Schokland in the Ijsselmeer at around 1520–1535 hours. Over the target the aircraft experienced a bomb hang-up. Aircraft 495D pulled away from formation to close the bomb bay doors, but the bomb went through one of the bomb bay doors, causing the door to blow off. The aircraft never regained formation and was straggling thereafter. Just before reaching the Zuider Zee, fighters were reported attacking the aircraft. The plane started smoking, began a slow turn to the right while losing altitude, and within seconds exploded, falling in four distinct burning pieces. Seven parachutes in total were observed leaving the aircraft — five before the explosion and two after. German records (KUH 24 / KU 1380) confirm the B-24 was downed by a fighter on 8 April 1944 at 1520 hours at the Island of Schokland. Six crew members were captured and transferred to Dulag Luft on 12–15 April 1944; three crew members (Tucker, Sloan, and a third unidentified) were killed and interred at the cemetery of Vollenhove, Overijssel, on 14 April 1944.
Old Hickory42-73495