John C. McLaughlin

STAFF SERGEANT JOHN C. McLAUGHLIN of Haddon Heights NJ was born in 1924 to Mr. and Mrs. Harry McLaughlin. He graduated from Haddon Heights High School in 1940, and after leaving school worked as an apprentice at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. 

John McLaughlin enlisted in the Army in November of 1942 and after qualifying for flight duty, trained at the aerial gunnery school at Kingman AZ. He completed the course and was promoted to Sergeant in September of 1943. He was then sent to Salt Lake City UT to receive further training before being sent overseas. Sergeant McLaughlin served as a tail-gunner aboard a bomber. 

Staff Sergeant McLaughlin was named by the 8th Air Force as having been the first American bomber gunner to shoot down an enemy fighter over Berlin, during the raid that took place on March 6, 1944. He was credited with shooting down a Focke-Wolfe FW-190, and also for shooting down another German fighter on the same mission.

He was wounded on a mission on March 20, 1944, and returned to action after only three days. On March 28, 1944 his plane was shot down, and he was listed as missing. Word of his death came in August 1944.  Surviving him were his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Henry J. McLaughlin of 1714 West High Street, Haddon Heights NJ, and a brother Edward J. McLaughlin, then serving overseas in the Navy. His death was reported in the August 24, 1944 edition of the Camden Courier-Post.

Camden Courier-Post

April 21, 1944