Warbird Information Exchange

Hi guys, I’m trying to help a friend who’s father was in world war 2. He doesn’t have much to go on or know what type of aircraft or Bomb group he was assigned to. Here is the info that I came up with-

Captain John Francis oliver
11107136 t43
( has another serial number as well 0-2065816 t43 44)

He was a navigator in the 14th Air Force I believe. He was awarded the air medal, Burma star and distinguished flying cross as well as others. He’s buried in Arlington national cemetery,( June 1 1925-jan 13th 1991.)

I have tried multiple websites which usually end up in spam or trying to get money out of me. My friend personally won’t do the research or reach out to anybody to find out the info. If anybody could help me out I would greatly appreciate that. God bless

_________________
" I am a nobody in aviation, but somebody to my family."

Have at it. http://www.cbi-history.com/part_ib.html

You can join Fold3 or get the one week trial period and look there. https://www.fold3.com/?group=1

_________________
45-47=-2

Thank you for this website and your help, but where am I looking? Is there a search database? There is a tremendous amount of info on here. Forgive me I’m lost

_________________
" I am a nobody in aviation, but somebody to my family."

Exactly! Way too much info. unfortunately. There's no simple search engine, but what it does give you is each Bomb Group/Bomb Squadron assigned to the 14th Air Force. You will then need to search each one using your own methods, search engines, etc., hoping to run across the fairly common name of John F. Oliver. It's the proverbial needle in a haystack.

Do you know where he was born or died? A local paper might have an obit. that provides more info..

_________________
45-47=-2

I don't know if this will help, but according to Army enlistment records, Oliver was from Hampden County, Mass. (he was a Mass, native, born in 1925) and enlisted in the military on Feb 19, 1943.

_________________
Victory By Valor (Motto of the 20th Fighter Group)

Yes that’s him. Thanks for the update! Would there be any other info as to which Bomb group in the 14th he was assigned to?

_________________
" I am a nobody in aviation, but somebody to my family."

Disregard

_________________
Cheers,

Craig

Facebook Groups:

U.S. Marine Corps Sikorsky HRS / CH-19 Helicopter Database
U.S. Coast Guard Sikorsky HO4S / HH-19 Helicopter Database

I assume you've seen the Find A Grave listing for his grave?

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/28679023/john-f.-oliver

Here is a Fold3 memorial for John F. Oliver, serial number 11107136.

https://www.fold3.com/page/83436011-john-f-oliver

The above memorial shows 1932, which is obviously incorrect. I've seen this many times while researching others. Frequently, they get the last two digits inverted (i.e. 1932 instead of 1923). While searching the draft registration cards on Fold3, there are four "John Francis Oliver" from Massachusetts. None of which have birth years of 1923 or 1925 as you shared in a post. The four listed have the following info;

• 1910 - Born in Middleboro, MA - Residence on 16 Oct 1940, Middlesex, MA - Mary Frances Oliver (wife)
• 1922 - Born in South Boston, MA - Residence on 30 Jun 1942, South Boston, MA - Anna R. Oliver (no relationship listed)
• 1919 - Born in East Boston, MA - Residence on 16 Oct 1940, East Boston, MA - Mary C. Oliver (mother)
• 1914 - Born in Brockton, MA - Residence on 24 Oct 1942, Brockton, MA - Catherin Smith (grandmother)

Expanding the search outside of Massachusetts, I don't see any draft registration cards for "John Francis Oliver" with a birth year of 1925.

Newspapers.com is another resource I use. I'm not able to find any obituary or death notice for "John F. Oliver", "John Francis Oliver", or "Oliver, John F" in 1991.

I also took a look on Ancestry.com and built a tree using the information from the Find A Grave memorial. Interestingly, it shows a different middle name of Frederick, not Francis.

_________________
Greenville Flyers: The Legacy of Allied Pilots Who Flew at Greenville Army Airfield

I can’t thank you enough for this type of information this greatly helps narrow the search. Yes his middle name is indeed Frederick not Francis. This was accidentally put down on his paperwork but it is indeed Frederick. He passed away in Springfield Massachusetts.I hope this clarifies with the confusion and I can get even more information off of this

_________________
" I am a nobody in aviation, but somebody to my family."

Bump

_________________
" I am a nobody in aviation, but somebody to my family."