Lt. Col. John B. England

John B. England was born on Jan. 15, 1923, in Caruthersville, Missouri, and died on Nov. 17, 1954, at Toul, France. He participated in 108 combat missions during World War II, destroyed 19 German aircraft, and on one mission downed four enemy aircraft. For gallantry in action, he was awarded the Silver Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross with three Oak Leaf Clusters, the Air Medal with 14 Oak Leaf Clusters, and the French Croix de Guerre. He was Missouri's leading ace pilot of World War II. He died heroically landing in fog at Toul, France, when he elected to crash into a wooded area rather than risk the lives of other men.

Caruthersville, Missouri · United States