John F. Thornell Jr.

John Francis Thornell Jr
Lt Col. John Francis Thornell, Jr
Nickname(s)	Jack
Born	(1921-04-19)April 19, 1921 Stoughton, Massachusetts
Died	September 3, 1998(1998-09-03) (aged 77)
Place of burial	Riverside National Cemetery
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Air Force
Years of service	1940–1971
Rank	Lieutenant Colonel
Commands held	3526th Pilot Training Squadron
Awards	Distinguished Service Cross Silver Star (2) Distinguished Flying Cross (6) Meritorious Service Medal Air Medal (6)

John Francis Thornell, Jr (April 19, 1921 – September 3, 1998) was a career officer in the United States Air Force and a World War II flying ace. He flew P-51 Mustangs and P-47 Thunderbolts with the 328th Fighter Squadron of the 352nd Fighter Group. He was the third highest scoring ace of 352nd Fighter Group, and one of the top USAAF aces of the European Theater of Operations and Eighth Air Force, with 17.25 aerial victories and 2 ground victories.

Capt John F Thornell Jr. stands in the cockpit of North American P-51B Mustang “Pattie Ann II” with his crew chief.

Biography

Thornell was born in Stoughton, Massachusetts on April 19, 1921. After moving to East Walpole in 1933, he graduated from the Norfolk County Agricultural School in May 1939.

In July 1940, Thornell enlisted in the United States Army and was assigned to the 7th Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Infantry Division at Fort Ethan Allen, Vermont. Promoted to corporal, he was reassigned to the Air Corps in January 1942. He began training as an aviation cadet in March 1942 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in February 1943 after completing flight training.

Thornell flew the P-47 in combat from September 1943 to April 1944, and then flew the P-51 from April 19 to July 25, 1944. He shot down his first two Me-109s over the Netherlands in March 1944. Thornell shot down one FW-190 on April 10, 1944 and two more on April 19, becoming an ace and earning his first Silver Star. He received the Distinguished Service Cross for destroying three ME-109s near Nienburg, Germany on May 8, 1944. Thornell downed two Me-109s on May 27, 1944, one on May 28, two on May 29 and two more on June 10. He was subsequently awarded a second Silver Star.

After the war, Thornell transferred to the new Air Force in 1947. From 1949 to 1951, he served as a fighter tactics advisor for the Turkish Air Force. From 1955 to 1956, Thornell attended the University of Southern California. From 1960 to 1964, he was assigned to Williams Air Force Base, Arizona, where he commanded the 3526th Training Squadron. Thornell retired from active duty as a lieutenant colonel on August 1, 1971.

On March 3, 1945, Thornell married Pamela McLendon. They had six boys and two girls and lived in Green Valley, Arizona after his retirement.

After his death on September 3, 1998, Thornell was interred beside his wife at Riverside National Cemetery five days later.

Awards and decorations

P-51B Mustangs of the 352nd Fighter Group escort B-24H Liberator bombers of the 458th Bombardment Group over the North Sea.

  Command pilot

	Distinguished Service Cross
	Silver Star with one oak leaf cluster
	Distinguished Flying Cross with silver leaf cluster
	Meritorious Service Medal
	Air Medal with silver leaf cluster
	Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
	Air Force Presidential Unit Citation
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
	Army Good Conduct Medal
	American Defense Service Medal
	American Campaign Medal
	European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with two service stars
	World War II Victory Medal
	Army of Occupation Medal
	National Defense Service Medal with one service star

Air Force Longevity Service Award with oak and silver leaf clusters