Remembering World War II

Name: Ronald Everett Meehan Rank: 11071531 Service Number: Staff Sergeant Service: 846th Bomb Squadron, 489th Bomb Group, United States Army Air Forces Awards: Purple Heart Date of Birth: June 28, 1921 Place of Birth: Fitchburg, Worcester Co., Massachusetts Date of Enlistment: August 29, 1942 Place of Enlistment: Springfield, Hampden Co., Massachusetts Age at Enlistment: 21 Address at Enlistment: Fitchburg, Worcester Co., Massachusetts Height: 6 feet, 1 inch Complexion: Light Hair color: Black Eye color: Brown Occupation: Unskilled occupations in fabrication of textile products Marital Status: Single Next of Kin: Flora Meehan (Mother) Fitchburg, Mass. Religion: Methodist Date of Death: June 2, 1944 Age of Death: 22 Cemetery: Forest Hill Cemetery, Fitchburg, Worcester Co., Massachusetts Ronald Everett Meehan was the son of Charles James Meehan (1880-1941) and Flora Isabelle (Jackson) Meehan (1883- 1971), and the brother of Ralph Loyd Meehan (1903-1953), Viola Blanche (Meehan) Farr (1906-1986), Marion Evelyn (Meehan) Efferman (1907-1974), Ruth Isabelle (Meehan) Ward (1910- 1993), Bernice Irene Meehan (1913- 1979), Kenneth Charles Meehan (1914- 1985), Gladys Rae (Meehan) Clark (1917- 1992), Leslie Earl Meehan (1919-1993), and Richard Meehan. Ronald’s mother was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia. His father was born in New Jersey. Ronald’s father and Ralph worked at a paper mill in the 1930’s and 1940’s in Fitchburg and at least three of his sisters worked at the New England Curtain Shop; also, in Fitchburg. All four of Ronald’s brothers served in the US Army. His younger brother Richard enlisted during the war but was released due to his young age, and reenlisted post-war on March 11, 1946. His other three brothers served during WWII. Leslie served February 13, 1942, to December 10, 1945. Ralph served with Company C of the 806th Tank Destroyer Battalion (Field Artillery) from October 1, 1942, to March 1, 1945. Kenneth served from January 24, 1944, to May 25, 1946, and was in England at the time of Ronald’s death. Richard’s son, Richard Jr., also served in the USAAF. Ronald registered for the US Draft on August 15, 1942, in Fitchburg, Worcester Co., Massachusetts. He was working for Simonds Saw and Steel Co on Intervale Road in Fitch Mass. at the time. Ronald was initially assigned to Fort Devens in Masschusetts, and received additional training at Atlantic City, New Jersey, and Lowrey Field in Colorado. He had arrived in England in May 1944, with the Squadron entering combat on May 30, 1944, with an attack on Oldenburg, Germany. It then concentrated on striking targets in France to prepare for Operation Overlord, the invasion of Normandy. Ronald served as radio operator and turret gunner aboard the Consolidated B-24H Liberator heavy bomber No. 2-94864 (aircraft nicknamed ‘Stinky’). His aircraft was shot down near Dieppe, France on June 2, 1944. Five other crewmembers were killed and three were taken as Prisoners of War. The five other casualties were: Second Lieutenant James Herbert Bebout Born Feb. 25, 1923, in Chartiers Township, Washington County, Pennsylvania Interred at the Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia Lieutenant Donald H. Bruening Born May 7, 1916, in Portage, Cambria County, Pennsylvania Interred at the Morningside Cemetery, Dubois, Clearfield Co., Pennsylvania Staff Sergeant Donald Carl Harris Born May 26, 1923, in Mahoning County, Ohio Interred at the Normandy American Cemetery, Colleville-sur-Mer, Normandy, France Staff Sergeant Robert C. Smith Born 1921, in Sault Sainte Marie, Chippewa County, Michigan Interred at the Normandy American Cemetery, Colleville-sur-Mer, Normandy, France Technical Sergeant James N. Trewartha Born May 10, 1923, in Hazel Green, Grant County, Wisconsin Interred at the Normandy American Cemetery, Colleville-sur-Mer, Normandy, France The three who survived were Second Lieutenant Stanley J. Biskup, Staff Sergeant David N. Gullet, and Staff Sergeant George F. Murphy. 2nd Lt. Biskop recalled that another crew member, Second Lieutenant Dean A. Davidson, survived the crash because he met him at Stalag VII-A, the POW camp at Moosburg (just north of Munich), but that when he returned to the US, he received forms to fill out on his comrades lost on the flight, and they requested information on Dean. Davidson’s fate is unclear. Staff Sergeant Ronald Everett Meehan’s family chose to repatriate his remains, and he is interred at the Forest Hill Cemetery in Fitchburg, Worcester Co., Mass. A bronze plaque bearing Ronald’s name was also on display at the West Fitchburg Methodist Church (now closed) in Fitchburg, Mass.

Ronald Everett Meehan

Sources: deanbiskup.com findagrave honorstates.org

Meehan family (Ronald in front of his 3 older brothers)