[John F. Thornell oral history interview]

Fighter ace John F. Thornell discusses his military service with the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. He describes his wartime experiences as a fighter pilot, including his time stationed in England with the 328th Fighter Squadron of the 352nd Fighter Group. Special focus on four combat missions that took place in 1944: a skip-bombing mission against a German submarine pen (March 11, 1944), a bomber escort mission against Northeim, Germany (April 19, 1944), a bomber escort mission against Brunswick, Germany (May 8, 1944), and a patrol mission over France (June 10, 1944).

John F. Thornell was born on April 19, 1921 in Stoughton, Massachusetts. He joined the United States Army in 1940 and applied for flight training after the United States entered World War II. Completing his training in 1943, Thornell was then deployed to England, where he served with the 328th Fighter Squadron of the 352nd Fighter Group. His combat tour included combat air patrol and bomber escort missions over France and Germany. After the end of World War II, Thornell briefly left active duty to attend college at the University of California. He was recalled to active duty 1948 and served with the Air Force until 1971, when he retired as a lieutenant colonel. Thornell passed away in 1998.