Remembering World War II

John Eugene Gormley

Name: John Eugene Gormley Rank: Technical Sergeant Service Number: 31117607 Service: 90th Bomber Group, Heavy, 400th Bomber Squadron, 5th Air Force, United States Army Air Force Awards: Air Medal, Purple Heart Date of Birth: February 7, 1916 Place of Birth: Annapolis Royal, Annapolis Co., NS Date of Enlistment: July 8, 1942 Place of Enlistment: Portland, Cumberland Co., Maine Address at Enlistment: Portland, Cumberland Co., Maine Age at Enlistment: 26 Height: 5 feet, 8 inches Occupation: Lumberman Marital Status: Married Date of Death: October 12, 1943 Age: 27 Cemetery: Manila American Cemetery, Manila, Philippines Grave: Tablets of the Missing John Eugene Gormley was the son of Joseph Gormley (1885-1956) and Nellie May (Harnish) Gormley (1887- 1962). John’s father was born in Perotte (Settlement), in Annapolis Co., Nova Scotia and his mother was born in Aylesford, Kings Co., NS. His father was working as a Telegrapher. His mother had previously been married to William Wallace Prime (1876-1906), and she had one son from that marriage – Russel Prime (1906-1978); John’s half-brother. John had one full brother, Edson Joseph Gormley (1922-2011) who also served in the US Armed Forces in WWII, enlisting August 20, 1945 (Service No. 31513697). He had one other sibling Carroll George Gormley (b. 1926). John married Joyce Arlene Packard (1924-2006) July 12, 1941. His family was living in the area of Portland, Maine when he was in the service. Flying from Port Moresby, this was the first big daylight bombing mission against Rabaul on New Britain Island, in Papua New Guinea. Their target area was the enemy shipping area of Simpson Harbor. This was an ambitious undertaking with over 300 Allied bombers and escorts involved. They encountered heavy flak and dozens of Japanese Zero fighters. Despite the difficult situation, they were able to release their payload and help sink a destroyer and three other ships. They were last seen departing the battle scene, badly shot up but under control. However, they failed to return to base and were declared missing in action. Most likely they ran out of fuel and crashed into the sea. The other nine crew were: From: Co-Pilot - Second Lieutenant Lester K Danks Jr (Service # O-801941) Bridgeport, Fairfield Co., Connecticut Gunner – Staff Sergeant John L Ford (Service # 15115355) Fairmont, Marion Co., West Virginia Navigator – Second Lieutenant Lucian Benjamin Gray (Service # O-798792) Gainesville, Alachua County, Florida Gunner – Staff Sergeant Walter Edward Kuchta (Service # 31168759) New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut Pilot - Second Lieutenant Donald K McNeff (Service # O-2268476) Broken Bow, Custer Co., Nebraska Bombardier – Second Lieutenant William K Murray (Service # O-669381) West NY, Hudson Co., NY Gunner – Staff Sergeant Stephen K Roos (Service # October 12, 1943) Ridgewood, Bergen Co., New Jersey Flight Engineer – Staff Sergeant John A Smith (Service # 12076979) Patterson, Passaic Co., New Jersey Gunner – Staff Sergeant Francis E Walker (Service # 31160010) Plymouth, Plymouth Co., Massachusetts Technical Sergeant John Eugene Gormley is remembered on the panels of the Manila American Cemetery’s Memorial Walls of the Missing. On October 12, 1943, John was serving on B-24D Liberator #42-72729, nicknamed “Mission Belle”. The nose art of the Mission Belle depicted actress Hedy Lamarr portraying "Tondelayo" in the Hollywood film White Cargo from 1942.

Sources American Battle Monuments Commission – John Eugene Gormley findagrave pacificwrecks.com

John’s brother Edson J. Gormley

John Eugene Gormley