S/Sgt. John A. Wright, Jr.
          90th BS  3rd Bomb Group
               KIA   9 Nov 1943

John A. Wright, Jr. born on 8 February 1909 in Collier, West Virginia to Mr. & Mrs. John A. Wright, Sr.

Enlisted as a Private in the Army Air Corps on 23 March 1942 at New Cumberland, Pennsylvania.  
Completed basic training and the Aviation Mechanics School at Kessler Field near Biloxi, Mississippi.  
Graduated from the Army Air Forces Flexible Gunnery School at Tyndall Field, Florida.Completed Bombardier 
and Navigation training at Carlsbad Field, New Mexico.Underwent B-25 twin-engine aircraft operational training 
at Daniel Field near Augusta, Georgia.Completed B-25 aircraft advanced combat crew training at Greenville 
and Columbia Army Air Bases in South Carolina. On 7 July 1943, he deployed to the Southwest Pacific Theater 
of Operations and was assigned to the 3rd Bombardment Group ("The Grim Reapers"), 90th Bomb Squadron 
stationed at Dobodura Airfield Complex in New Guinea. On 9 November 1943, he flew as an Aerial Gunner in 
the Bombardier’s Plexiglas nose compartment aboard a North American B-25C Mitchell bomber.  It was one 
of over 40 aircraft on a mission to strafe and bombard Japanese forces at the Alexishafen Airdrome in the 
Madang Province along the north coast of New Guinea. Staff Sergeant Wright waskilled in action during this attack.