1943 - US Air Corps flying crew - John D Speakman front second from right

John D Speakman, (known to his family as Jack) was the second child born to Mary and Walter Speakman in 1924. When he came of age, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps and was assigned to the 701st Bomb Squadron, 445th Bomb Group, 2nd Air Division and assigned the position of tail gunner as part of a B-24 bomber crew.
This photo, taken October 1943, shows Jack, front row, second from right - sourced from http://www.dj1953.com/1944/sidney's-story.htm.
Shot down on 24th February 1944, he was interned as a POW until the end of the war. In November 1946, he married Betty Lee Millman. Between 1947 and 1965, they had a family of 9 children, raising them all in the Catholic faith.
Jack had the pleasure to see all of his grandchildren born but he passed away on 29th September 1992, just short of seeing the first of his great grandchildren.