John E. Maki
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Army
John E. Maki was inducted into the Army Air Corps on Janauary 22,1943.
He was a Staff Sergeant and aircraft top turret gunner and mechanic on B-26 aircraft with the 505th Bomb Squadron, 394th Bomb Group. He flew 65 combat missions before being wounded when his plane was hit by anti-aircraft fire. He was involved in the air offensive in the northern France and Normandy campaigns. He was wounded in action by flak in September 1944.
Mr. Maki was awarded the: Purple Heart (presented by Gen. "Hap" Arnold), Air Medal with 12 Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Crew Member Badge, European-African-Middle East Campaign Medal with three bronze battle stars, World War II Victory Medal and an overseas service bar.
In February 1945 he was assigned as gunnery instructor in Laredo, Texas, until he was honorably discharged on May 21, 1945 at Fort Snelling, Minn.
Source: Hometown Heroes: The St. Louis County World War II Project. 186.
