John F. Thornell, Jr

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 is among the top United States Army Air Forces aces of the European Theater of Operations and Eighth Air Force, with 17.25 aerial victories and 2 ground victories.

Early life
John Thornell was born on April 19, 1921, in Stoughton, Massachusetts and moved to East Walpole. He attended local schools before graduating from Norfolk County Agricultural High School in 1939.

Military career
He enlisted in the United States Army Reserve on June 11, 1940, and then served on active duty with the 1st Infantry Division at Fort Ethan Allen, from July 2, 1940, to January 1942, when he entered the Aviation Cadet Program of the United States Army Air Forces. He was a Sergeant when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor.

Thornell was commissioned a 2nd lieutenant and awarded his pilot wings at Craig Field on February 16, 1943.

World War II
After P-47 Thunderbolt training he was assigned to the 328th Fighter Squadron of the 352nd Fighter Group. The 352nd deployed to England and was attached to the 8th Air Force based in RAF Bodney. He scored his first four victories while flying a P-47 Thunderbolt. His unit converted to the P-51B in April and he destroyed 3 FW-190s on April 19, 1944 earning Silver Star for the mission.

His biggest day was on May 8, 1944 when he destroyed 3 ME-109s on a single mission and earned the nation's second highest decoration- Distinguished Service Cross for the mission. On Jun 10, 1944 he earned an additional Silver Star for destroying 3 ME-109s in a mission.

He flew in total 91 missions against the Luftwaffe and was credited in destruction of 17.25 enemy aircraft in aerial combat plus 2 damaged, and another 3 on the ground while strafing enemy airfields, between January and June 1944. He returned to the U.S. in July 1944.

Post war
After the war, he served with the 1st Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron in Furth, Germany, from 1946 to February 1947, followed by service in the Air Force Reserve from February 21, 1947 to March 22, 1948.

He returned to active duty and was assigned with the 4th Tactical Fighter Wing at Andrews Air Force Base and then was an adviser to the Turkish Air Force, from 1949 to 1951.

Thornell then served as Operations Officer for the 89th Fighter Group at Bedford, Massachusetts, until 1955, followed by service in the Atomic Plans Office with Headquarters 3rd Air Force in England from August 1956 to August 1960. He maintained combat status in F-84 Thunderjet and F-100 Super Sabre, while with 20th Fighter Wing at RAF Wethersfield.

His next assignment was as Flying Safety Officer with the 4530th Combat Crew Training Wing and then with the 3525th Pilot Training Wing at Williams Air Force Base from August 1960 to August 1962, and then as commander of the 3526th Pilot Training Squadron, also at Williams Air Force Base, until July 1964.

Thornell was Chief of the Flight Training Division and then Chief of the Flight Safety Division with Headquarters Air Training Command at Randolph Air Force Base, from July 1964 to July 1967. His final assignment was as Chief of the Fighter Branch with the Inspector General Group at Norton Air Force Base from July 1967 until his retirement from the Air Force on August 1, 1971.

Later life
He married Pamela McLendon on March 3, 1945. They had eight children, six sons and two daughters. After his retirement from the Air Force, he and Pamela settled in Green Valley, Arizona.

Thornell died on September 3, 1998, and is buried at Riverside National Cemetery.

Awards and decorations
Thornnell's decorations and awards include: