John H Windler 16066940 enlisted into the Service on 28 January, 1942 at Cook County, Illinois as an Aviation Cadet in the Army Air Corp. Born in 1919 in Illinois, John had completed high-school, is White, a Citizen and was working in accounting and auditors. John was still single at enlistment.

**John H Windler was a Commisioned Bombardier in the *** 321st Bomb Group, 447th Bomb Squad ** flying COMBAT Missions in the Mediterranean Theatre in the B-25 Mitchell Medium Bomber.**

**John H Windler was a Commisioned Bombardier in the *** 321st Bomb Group, 447th Bomb Squad ** flying COMBAT Missions in the Mediterranean Theatre in the B-25 Mitchell Medium Bomber.**

Lt Jack Windler 1st shows up in the War-Diary on his FIRST Mission 21 Jan, 1944 (War-Diary actually shows him being assigned to the 447th on the 21st Jan. 1944) As a much needed Bombardier, he was thrown directly into the deep end of the pool! EIGHT Missions in Jan,

19 Jan. 1944 - A/C No.42-53371“Death Wind”

21 Jan. 1944 - A/C No. 41-13175 " The-St. Myrtle II"

22 Jan. 1944 - A/C No.41-30638

25 Jan. 1944 - A/C No. 42-53371 “Death Wind”

27 Jan. 1944 - A/C No. 42-53371 “Death Wind”

28 Jan. 1944 - A/C No. 42-53371 “Death Wind”

30 Jan. 1944 - A/C No.43-53371 "Death Wind"

30 Jan. 1944 - A/C No.43-53371 "Death Wind" (Mission 2 that day)

WEDNESDAY 2 Feb. 1944 (War-Diary)

447th BS Mission Summary: (Ops Order 246/mission 245) Group Mission # 208: 10 ships took part in raid on Albano R/J, Italy.Result of bombing excellent.The bombs of the first flight all hit in one concentration covering the assigned target. The bombs of the second flight were more widely scattered.Flak was fairly accurate, heavy guns all around target.We lead the formation, with Lt. Bounds and Major Sampson in the lead plane, and Lt. Windler as bombardier.Lt. Olson, plane 181, returned with its bombs, bomb sight stabilizer gyro went out.

2 Feb. 1944 - A/C No.43-53371 "Death Wind"

16 Feb. 1944 - A/C No.43-53371 "Death Wind"

20 Feb. 1944 - A/C No.43-53371 "Death Wind"

22 Feb. 1944 - A//C No.42-64695 ___

** 5 Combat Missions in March…..

1 April 1944 - A/C No. 41-13181 “The Sophisticated Lady"

7 April 1944 - A/C No. 42-53371 “Death Wind”

8 April 1944 - A/C No. 42-53371 “Death Wind”

12 April 1944 - A/C No. 42-53371 “Death Wind” ~~~~~~~~~~~

May 4 Combat Missions and ONE Huge-Score !!!*

28 May, 1944 447th BS War Diary:Special Accounts:

Capt. Bounds led the mission perfectly.Lt. Windler, his bombardier, scored a “shock”when he hit the southwest end of the bridge, the exact part of the bridge he was briefed to hit. (and)

. Capt. Bound’s plane was the only one of our Squadron to drop bombs on the target, but luckily he had Lt. Windler as bombardier who in all his missions with thisSquaron has missed his target only once.

3 June 1944 WAR-Diary;

447th BS War Diary: Today’s flight training consisted of local test flights and local transition.Capt Olson, conducted a class on formation assembly, and landing procedure for 27 pilots and 27 co-pilots.Lt. Windler, held a class for six new bombardiers on target identification, use of computers and bombs racks.

Windler, John H., Lt, bombardier ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

6 June 1944; 1st Lt John H. Windler Awarded an AIR MEDAL

8 June 1944; War-Diary - 1st Lt. John H Windler, is appointed squadron bombardier.

(More to the STORY to come) Please see Page 2 for FAMILY [Link under the Map]

** 321st BG History Team ** of John T Fitzgerald, Patti Johnson and Barbi Ennis Connolly (321st BG Historian).**