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T/Sgt John R. McCullough—Ass't Radio Operator

John R. McCullough—Pat's Uncle

From Pat Ranfranz: My uncle, John, was one of 13 children (two died at birth) from a 1400-acre Watertown, South Dakota farm family. In 1942, shortly after Pearl Harbor, the family moved to Covina, California to help with the industrial war effort. My mother was 5 years old at the time of the move. My mother recalls standing in the doorway listening to the Western Union representative tell my grandparents and other relatives that John was MIA and likely KIA. She recalls the odd sight of grownup men and women crying as they tried to understand the loss. Although other brothers served during the war my family was fortunate to have escaped the war with the loss of only one son. My grandfather never forgave the Japanese for the loss of his son After the war family moved on and returned to Watertown, South Dakota. Like many families who had lost loved ones during the war they endured the victory celebrations and the returning service members with the hope that John had somehow survived the war and would also return. Sadly as time passed, the family realized John's MIA/KIA status was not going to change.

Name	Position	Rank	Serial Number	Last Known Address	Contact Listed
John R. McCullough	Ass't Radio Operator	T/Sgt	39293812	Mrs. Blanche H. McCullough 330 South Orange Avenue Covina, CA	Mother

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John McCullough Pictures

Western Union sent to John R. McCullough mother (Blanche McCullough) on 7 July 1944 at 9:13 pm.

War Department letter to John R. McCullough mother (Blanche McCullough) on 12 July 1944

War Department letter to John R. McCullough mother (Blanche McCullough) on 17 July 1944

Newspaper clipping. Likely from Covina, CA area.

Naval Air Transport Ticket dated 28 February 1944

"Family Closeup" article about John R. McCullough family from the Goodyear Alert Monthly Magazine, May 1943

Goodyear Alert Monthly Magazine Article Titled: Family Service Record Claimed by McCullough

Letter John R. McCullough wrote to his mother in September 1931 when he was eight

Pictures from John R. McCullough cigarette case sent home to the family

Sioux Falls, South Dakota 1943—Army Air Force Training Command Technical School Book

Purple Heart Document

Information Listed on South Dakota Memorial Web site

Information Listed on NARA

U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946 Record about John R McCullough

Please submit information about John R. McCullough.

 

John R. McCullough Picture:

T/Sgt John R. McCullough Click on the image to download and view a high resolution image. The following pictures and message from my uncle, John R. McCullough, was located attended from my research of John's cigarette case that was sent home to the family after his shoot down. The cigarette case contained numerous pictures with captions on the back of the pictures. One of the pictures was of David Stennick from Lodi, CA. I called and located David who still lives in Lodi, CA. David remembers John well from his radio school in Sioux Falls, South Dakota during 1943. They graduated on Thanksgiving Day 1943. David sent me his Army Air Force Technical School Training Command (Radio School) book that included a new picture of John and the last note/letter we have located. Cover of the Army Air Force Technical School Training Command in Sioux Falls, South Dakota book. Click to enlarge. Picture of T/Sgt John R. McCullough from the Army Air Force Technical School Training Command book. < Message that John R. McCullough wrote to David Stennick on Thanksgiving Day 1943 when they graduated from thier Technical School. This is the last knowen note or letter from John before his death the following June in the Coleman shoot down. The message states, "Good luck Dave. May we meet again in good old sunny Calif. John MCCullough, 330 South Organge Ave, Covina, Calif. The following pictures of John McCoullough are from a "Family Closeup" article about the McCullough family in the Goodyear Alert Monthly Magazine from May 1943. Click to Enlarge. (Right to Left) Joseph Mathew McCullough (brother), John Raymond McCoullough , Hugh McCullough (father), and unknown co-worker. Click to Enlarge. The McCullough family at the dinner table at their ranch in Covina, CA a few miles from the Los Angeles Goodyear plant. (Right to Left) Marie (Pat Ranfranz mother), Earl, Robert, Floyd, Kathy, Marilyn, Hugh (father), Blanch (mother), Dorothy (wife of Matt), Michael (baby-son of Matt & Dorothy), Matt, John, and William (boy in front). Click to Enlarge. Dad, John , and Joe McCullough in the Los Angles Goodyear plant, test forms used in making bullet-sealing fuel tanks.

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Pictures from John R. McCullough cigarette case sent home to the family:

The following pictures were in John's cigarette case that was sent home to the family after his shoot down. The picture captions are the exact wording found on the back of the pictures if available. Click on the thumbnail images below to view a large image: Please contact Pat Ranfranz if you have any information to share about the names and pictures listed below. Email: pat@missingaircrew.com Paul Boe 901 Irving Park Rd Chicago, Ill David Stennick 227 So. Calif. St. Lodi, Calif. Ph. 241R From Buddy P.f.C. J. Knapp 611 E. Main Bismark, N. Dak Evelyn Barte 225 1st St SW Watertown, SD July 24, Taken Oct 31,19 To "Mack" from your buddy with a sore toe! Frank A. Nurre, Jr. 324 S Van Ness Hollywood WH-35 20 Knutsen, H.B. 309 N. Whittier Ave. Whittier, Ccalif PH. 418-168 Ernie Nelson Bud McCullough (John's Brother) Bud McCullough (John's Brother) Bud McCullough (John's Brother) Bud McCullough (John's Brother) Bud McCullough (Right) (John's Brother)   John Raymond McCoullough cigarette case. Contacted by the Nephew of Frank A. Nurre To "Mack" from your buddy with a sore toe! Frank A. Nurre, Jr. 324 S Van Ness Hollywood WH-35 20 The internet is truly a wonderful way to locate information and little pieces of history. Over and over I have been put in contact with people who have shared information about my uncle or other areas of my Missing Air Crew Project just by posting information on my web site. The most recent contact was from the nephew of Frank A. Nurre. Frank was a friend of my uncle’s who went through the Sioux Falls, South Dakota Army Air Force Training Command Technical for radio training during 1943. Frank’s picture was in my uncle’s cigarette case when it was sent home to our family after he was shot down. Frank was in the motion picture industry anjd passed away in the late 90's. Click on the images below to view full sized images of Frank Nurre. frank_01 frank_02 frank_03 frank_05 frank_06 frank_04

Sioux Falls, South Dakota 1943—Army Air Force Training Command Technical School Book:

Download Entire Book: Cover of the Army Air Force Technical School Training Command in Sioux Falls, South Dakota book. Click to enlarge. Scanned and posted the Radio Operator book I received from David Stennick. the book is titled, "Amry Air Force Training Command Technical School, Sioux Falls, South Dakota 1943". My uncle and David graduated from the school on Thanksgiving Day 1943. Sioux Falls, South Dakota Army Air Force Training Command Technical School Book (LARGE FILE: 7 MB) John R. McCullough Training Camps in the US prior to service overseas: April 1943—Kearns, Utah June 1943—Sioux Falls, South Dakota February 1944—Hamilton Field, California

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John R. McCullough—NARA Information:

Information Listed on NARA (National Archives and Records Administration) http://www.archives.gov/aad/): South Dakota Born 1923 Enlisted 13 April 1943 in Los Angeles, California Click to Enlarge. John Raymond McCoullough Social Security Card the number has been removed for internet privacy reasons.

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Western Union:

Click to Enlarge. Western Union sent to John R. McCullough mother (Blanche McCullough) on 7 July 1944 at 9:13 pm. Click on the image to download and view a high resolution image.

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War Department Letter:

Download War Department Letter (pdf file 255 KB) War Department letter sent to John R. McCullough mother (Blanche McCullough) on 12 July 1944.

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Newspaper Clipping:

Newspaper clipping saved by family members. It's likely from a local Covina, CA area paper. The short article lists the wrong date of the shoot down and crew position.

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Naval Air Transport Ticket dated 28 February 1944 :

Naval Air Transport Ticket dated 28 February 1944. John likely arrived to the 13th Air Force, 372nd Bomb Squadron, and 307th Bomb Group on this flight from HI to Espiritu Santo in the New Hebrides.

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War Department Letter:

Download War Department Letter (pdf file 73 KB) War Department letter sent to John R. McCullough mother (Blanche McCullough) on 17 July 1944.

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"Family Closeup" article about John R. McCullough family from the Goodyear Alert Monthly Magazine, May 1943:

Download Family Closeup Article (pdf file 166 KB) "Family Closeup" article about John R. McCullough family from the Goodyear Alert Monthly Magazine, May 1943. Download the pdf file to best view the article. John is pictured twice within the article.

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1931 Letter to John's Mom:

Click to Enlarge. Letter John wrote to his mother in September of 1931 when the family lived in Ida Grove, IA. The following is the text from the letter: Ida Grove, Iowa Dear Mother, We are learning in school how to write letters, so I thought I would write a real to you, won’t you be surprised when the postman hands it to you in the morning? We have happy times in school. I like to play games with my classmates. Some days we have story-telling. Perhaps we shall have a program soon for our parents. Wouldn’t you like to come? With love, John

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Article Titled: Family Service Record Claimed by McCullough:

Goodyear Alert Monthly Magazine Article Titled: Family Service Record Claimed by McCullough. This article likley was published between March and June 1944.

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Purple Heart Document:

The United States of America Purple Heart for Sergeant John R. McCullough for military merit and for wounds received in action resulting in his death June 25, 1944:   Click to Enlarge.

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Information Listed on South Dakota Memorial Web site:

Pat Note: The following information is from the South Dakota Memorial Web site, however, some of the information is not correct (i.e. ...We know of no living survivors...). I have tried to contact the site to make corrections but I have not received a reply. In Memory of U.S. Army Air Forces Sergeant John Raymond McCullough Castlewood, S.D. Hamlin County December 14, 1923 -- June 25,1944 Killed in Action on Yap Island John Raymond McCullough was born on December 14, 1923, in Vail, Iowa. His parents were Hugh and Blanche McCullough. John was employed in "war work" at Good Year Tire Co. in Los Angeles, California, from Oct. 20,1942, to April 20, 1943. His family was also working in California for the war effort. John McCullough was inducted into military service on April 13, 1943, in Los Angeles, California. On April 20, 1943, John entered active service at Fort MacArthur, California, as part of the Service Command Unit 195. He had, however, registered with the selective service in Hayti, S.D, and he had given his home address as Castlewood, South Dakota, having been a South Dakota resident for five years. Sergeant John McCullough left the United States for foreign service on February 19, 1944. John spent 305 days in domestic service and 128 days in foreign service. While on active duty he was a sergeant, 372nd Bombardment Squadron, 307th Bomber Group, Heavy. John Raymond McCullough was killed in action on June 25, 1944, on Yap Island, Carolina Islands. While in the U.S. Army Air Forces, he received the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and the Purple Heart. He is listed on the Tablets of the Missing at Manila American Cemetery, Manila, Philippines. We only know that his mother was living in Watertown, S.D., in 1949. We know of no living survivors. This profile was respectfully submitted by Ashley Seeklander Estelline High School, Estelline, South Dakota April 1, 2002. Information for this profile came from bonus records and the American Battle Monuments Commission. Source: http://www.state.sd.us/military/VetAffairs/sdwwiimemorial/SubPages/profiles/Display.asp?P=1258

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U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946 Record:

U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946 Record about John R McCullough Name: John R McCullough Birth Year: 1923 Race: White, citizen Nativity State or Country: Iowa State: South Dakota County or City: Hamlin Enlistment Date: 13 Apr 1943 Enlistment State: California Enlistment City: Los Angeles Branch: No branch assignment Branch Code: No branch assignment Grade: Private Term of Enlistment: Enlistment for the duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law. Education: 3 years of high school Marital Status: Single, without dependents Height: 68 Weight: 114

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