06/24/2026
Today we honor a Young Officer from Southwest Yonkers who lost his life in service of our Great Nation, on this day in 1944.
Flight Officer John J. Crowther fell to his death June 22, 1944, in England when his parachute failed to open after he jumped from his disabled plane, according to details received by his aunt. Until his enlistment June 3rd, 1942, the pilot resided a t 53 Saratoga Avenue with his uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. Edward Aushelm.
While piloting a B-24H Liberator bomber #42-94826, named the “Wolf Pack," on its 34th mission over Europe, a mission to bomb the St Cyr airfield in France, Flight Officer Crowther ran into heavy enemy fire, which seriously damaged the craft. He succeeded in nursing the plane across the Straits of Dover but was forced to order his crew to jump over England before reaching his base. Last man. Himself, he had lost so much altitude that his parachute could not open. The airship crashed at Park Farm near Arundel in West Sussex, England. Seven of the crew successfully bailed out. Three men were killed.
The three casualties of #42-94826 were: John J Crowther :: Co-Pilot, John Holoka Jr :: Flight Engineer and William B Montgomery :: Pilot
Flight Officer Crowther and his crew flew over to England May 1. 1944. They participated in several missions during the Normandy invasion as well as many others before and after while attached to the 844th Bomber Squadron, 489th Bomber Group, Heavy.
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The officer was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously and the Presidential Memorial Parchment. He also earned the Air Medal, United States Aviator Badge Army, World War II Victory Medal, American Campaign Medal, Army Presidential Unit Citation, Army Good Conduct Medal and the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign. His remains have never been identified. He was only twenty-one years old.
Born and educated In New York City, he was the son of Arthur H and the late Mae Robinson Crowther. They died when he was a child so he lived and was raised with his aunt Catherine and uncle Edward in Yonkers. A graduate of George Washington High School, he was employed by the American Auto Insurance Company of New York City, prior to entering the service.
Before his enlistment, Flight Officer Crowther was a private pilot with 50 hours of flight to his credit. He received his Initial training at the Army Air Center, Nashville. Tenn; Maxwell Field. Ala.; Hawthorn e School of Aeronautics. Orangeburg, S. C; Bush field, Augusta. Ga., and won his wings at Moody's Field. Valdosta, Ga. His extensive training was augmented at the Army Air Base. Salt Lake City. Utah; Davis Monthan Field. Tucson, Arizona and at Wendover Field, Utah.
Let us always remember the service and sacrifice of these brave young men. Theses true American heroes. Let Us Never Forget Flight Officer John James Crowther.
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