By Krista Finstad Hanson

For the Times

During World War II, the 339th Bombardment Squadron activated for service in July of 1943 at Salt Lake City Army Air Base in Utah. They were an original squadron of the 96th Bombardment Group. They also trained at Gowen Field, Idaho; Walla Walla Army Air Base, Washington; Pocatello Army Air Field, Idaho; and Pyote Army Air Base in Texas. They began their journey overseas in April of 1943 and arrived in Scotland in May. 

They flew B-17 Flying Fortress planes in combat missions over the European Theater of war. They first flew bombing missions over France and then later Germany and other countries in Europe, attacking bridges, factories, harbors, and other strategic targets. They were a part of the preparation for Operation Overlord in Normandy and Operation Cobra in St. Lo, France. After V-E Day on May 8, 1945, the 339th flew food and supplies to benefit the citizens of the Netherlands, as well as shuttled military personnel. They inactivated on Nov. 29, 1945. The 96th Bomb Group was awarded two Distinguished Unit Citations for difficult missions. 

Gratiot’s 2nd Lieutenant John Gordon McGlynn served with the 339th Bomb Squadron of the 96th Bomb Group of the U.S. Army Air Forces.

John Gordon McGlynn was born June 27, 1921 in Gratiot, Lafayette County, Wisconsin to John M. and Fernella (Lincicum) McGlynn.

From the 1930 U.S. Census, the family lived in Gratiot Village in a rented home in Lafayette County. The household included father John, mother Fernnie, and children John Gordon, James, Robert, and sisters Inegene and Betty Lou. Father John M. was a barber working in a barber shop on his own account.

From the 1940 U.S. Census, the family lived in the same place as they did in 1935 in Gratiot Village. The household included the addition of son Charles. John Gordon had four years of high school education. Father John was a barber working on his own account. Sons John and James worked for the NYA on a “school project.”

On Feb. 16, 1942, John Gordon McGlynn registered for the WWII Draft. He resided in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and worked for the NYA. 

On Jan. 10, 1943, John G. McGlynn enlisted for service in WWII in Chicago, Illinois. He enlisted as a Private in the Air Corps Reserve. He was born in 1921. However, this record gives his “nativity state” as Texas. His residence was Lafayette, Wisconsin. He had four years of high school and his civil occupation was “clerks, general.” 

The July 19, 1943 The Capital Times notice titled “2 Area Men Commissioned,” started that John G. McGlynn graduated as a bombardier and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the “West Texas bombardier quadrangle.”

More information was found in the July 20, 1943 Wisconsin State Journal article titled “Area Men Graduate,” which stated “McGlynn, the son of Mr. and Mrs. John McGlynn, was graduated from the Big Spring, Tex., school. He also is a graduate of Gratiot high school and played semi-professional baseball before entering service.”

The Jan. 29, 1944 The Capital Times article titled “Gratiot Lieutenant Missing in Action,” the article stated “Lieut. John G. McGlynn, 22, son of Mr. and Mrs. John McGlynn, Gratiot, has been missing in action over Germany since Jan. 11, his parents have been informed by the war department. The message came shortly after the McGlynns had received a letter from their son telling him that he expected to return to this country shortly.

Lieut. McGlynn has been in the air corps since July 1941, and had participated in a number of major bombing missions over Germany and occupied Europe. 

He is the first Gratiot casualty of this war.”

Additional information was provided in the Jan. 29, 1944 Wisconsin State Journal article titled “McGlynn, Gratiot, Missing in Action,” which stated “In a letter received by his parents Wednesday Lieut. McGlynn said he had returned safely from several big missions and had only a few more to make before becoming captain and returning home for a visit before being assigned to a camp in the United States as an instructor.”

The Feb. 27, 1944 Wisconsin State Journal article titled “McGlynns Learn Son’s Plane Dropped Into Sea,” stated “Mr. and Mrs. John J. McGlynn, Gratiot, whose son, Lieut. John G. McGlynn, was reported missing in action Jan. 11, have just received word from an AAF bomber section at England that Lieut. McGlynn was returning to England from a bombardier raid over Germany, when his plane developed engine trouble and dropped into the North Sea.

Lieut. McGlynn was a bombardier on an Eighth air force Flying Fortress. 

The young lieutenant had just previously been awarded the Air medal for participating in five combat missions over Germany and Occupied Europe.”

The Dec. 13, 1945 Wisconsin State Journal article titled “115 Veterans from Gratiot Area Back at Jobs, Remembering 4 Killed in Action, 8 Wounded,” provided more information about Lieut. John G. McGlynn. The article stated that Lieut. McGlynn “completed some 20 missions as a bomber pilot…killed in action over the North Sea on Jan. 11, 1944.”

The May 23, 1946 Wisconsin State Journal article titled “2 Gratiot Servicemen’s Memorial Rites Set,” had information about the Memorial service for Lieut. John Gordon McGlynn which was held “under the auspices of the Gille-Leary post of the American Legion.” (Note: John G. McGlynn’s father, John M. McGlynn was a veteran of WWI and was the post commander.)

2nd Lieutenant McGlynn is on the National WWII Memorial’s Gold Star Honor Roll for Lafayette County, Wisconsin. He received the Air Medal and the Purple Heart, awarded posthumously. His death status was “Finding of Death” — FOD.

2nd Lieutenant McGlynn is memorialized at the Tablets of the Missing at Netherlands American Cemetery in Margraten, Netherlands. His father ordered a bronze memorial marker on April 26, 1971 to be placed at St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery in Gratiot, Wisconsin. (Note: His father gave him the rank of 1st Lieutenant on the application form so that is what appears on this marker. However, all other documentation has him as a 2nd Lieutenant.)

Thank you, 2nd Lieutenant John Gordon McGlynn, for your service to and ultimate sacrifice for this country. We honor you and remember you.