WATSON, John Pershing Jr

Name: John Pershing WATSON Jr

Born 1 April 1918

Birthplace: Blairsville, Pennsylvania

Age at arrival in Buchenwald: 26

Died 15 November 2016 in Crossville, Tennessee, age 98

Service: USAAF

Service ID: 13057737

Service Rank: Staff Sergeant

Duties: Gunner

Air Group: 8th Air Force, 487th Bomb Group, 838th Bomb Squadron

Airbase: Lavenham, Suffolk UK

Aircraft: B-24 41-29468

Date shot down: 11 May 1944

Fate of crew: All 11 crewmen evaded, 7 captured; included HEIMERMAN, VRATNEY, PELLETIER, and Watson.

Evasion summary: Went to Paris by train, met Pelletier and Henneman, but were later separated. They stayed with Mr Pavin, 27 rue Duret, until Georges Prevot took them to his flat. Next day at Square des Aliscamps.

Date captured: 19 July 1944

Capture summary:  Arrested with HEIMERMAN.

Boxcar Transport: 15-20 August 1944, in boxcar #1 or #2

Buchenwald ID: 78333

Notes on Buchenwald internment:

Transferred from Buchenwald to: Stalag Luft III, South Compound

Kriege ID: 8196

Notes on SLIII internment:

Subsequent transfer to: Stalag VIIA, Moosburg, by train from Spremberg after forced winter march, 27-30 January, arriving 4 February 1945.

Notes on SVIIA internment:

Liberation: 29 April 1945 by units of the 14th Armored Division from Patton’s Third Army.

Repatriation from ETO:

Discharged:

VA status:

Notes on Post-War period: