2LT John Clark McKinney III (WWII)

 

Remembering 2LT John Clark McKinney III (Fairmont)

April 12, 1916 - May 9, 1944

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2LT John Clark McKinney III  (Service #O-701449) was born April 12, 1916 to John Clark (II) and Eleanor Helena (Rogers) McKinney, in Fairmont. John II was a newspaper reporter with The Fairmont Times. 

The family moved fairly often, finally settling on Diamond Street:

  • 1910 Census: 318 Merchant Street
  • 1920 Census: Ferry Street/Columbia Street
  • 1930-1940 Census: 507 Diamond Street
In addition to being a newspaper reporter, John II was a Deputy U.S. Marshall. The West Virginian newspaper announced his appointment on May 22, 1918.

Education, Draft, and Marriage

John III attended East Fairmont High School and graduated in 1933, before moving on to attend Fairmont State Teachers College. He graduated in 1937 with a bachelor's degree in English. While at Fairmont State, he participated in the band, orchestra, and choral club, as well as in the fraternity Omicron Pi. John was the band's student director. John went on to attend WVU to further his education in music.

When the 1940 census was recorded (April 8, 1940), he was living as a lodger in Petersburg, WV (Grant County). His occupation was listed as high school music teacher.

John entered the draft on October 16, 1940. He registered as a WVU student and listed himself as  6' and 150 lbs with gray eyes and brown hair.

On February 28, 1942, John married fellow teacher (and Preston County native) Rosaline Teets in Winchester, Virginia. Rosaline had also attended FSU and graduated in 1937.

Enlistment and Military Service

John enlisted at Fort Hayes (Ohio) on April 16, 1942, where he later entered into the Army Air Corps in August of 1942 ("Loses Life in Raid," The Sunday Exponent-Telegram). From that article: "Commissioned a second lieutenant on December 4, 1943, at Childress, Tex., he qualified for a B-17 bombardier at Avon Park, Fla., before leaving for overseas duty. After arriving in England on April (, he completed five missions before his death."

He was serving as a member of the 710th Bomber Squadron, 447th Bomb Group, Heavy. On May 9, 1944, he was on a mission on board the B-17 Flying Fortress 42-39865 ("Lady Lorraine"). It took off from Rattlesden, England and was attacking its assigned target of Laon/Athies airfield when it was hit by enemy fire.

"Flak knocked off nose, then ball turret fell off followed by aircraft disintegrating in mid-air to crashed two miles N of Laon, Fr; Missing Air Crew Report 4588" (Lady Lorraine).

Missing Air Crew Report 4588 reads: "Aircraft was hit by flak on its second run over target at 0923 hours. It was hit either in the no. 2 engine or directly in the nose. The nose was blown off and the ball turret dropped off. Aicraft then went straight down to about 5000 feet where 3 chutes were observed and then went right into ground."

On Board the Lady Lorraine:

Killed in Action:

Prisoners of War:

  • SSGT John M. Browko: Radio Operator
  • SGT Conrad D. St Laurent: Waist Gunner

Legacy:

2Lt John Clark McKinney III is buried at the Epinal American Cemetery and Memorial in Lorraine, France. He received the Purple Heart for his service, and is honored at the Marion County Veterans KIA Memorial at Veterans Square in Fairmont, WV. You can also find his name on the WV State Veterans Memorial in Charleston, WV.

Rosaline remarried WWII veteran Robert Nutter in 1946. Robert, a Mannington native, attended Fairmont State at the same time as John and Rosaline, and was teaching music and band at Victory High School in Clarksburg, WV. Rosaline taught at Monticello Grade School and Alta Vista School in Clarksburg until around 1956, when the duo and their two children moved to Maryland. Rosaline lived until September 27, 2005, when she died at the age of 89.

In addition to his wife, John was survived by his parents, and sister Helena (VanGilder). Three surviving brothers- Charles (Navy), CPL Robert (Army), and James (Marines)- all served in WWII. John was preceded in death by one younger brother, Homer.

Sources and Additional Information:


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