John Francis Thornell, Jr.
Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Air Force

John Francis Thornell, Jr. was born on 19 April 1921 in Stoughton, MA, the son of John F. and Anne T. McDonald Thornell. He is a graduate of Bird School and Norfolk County Agricultural School of Walpole, MA, in the Class of 1939.

On 8 May 1944, then-First Lieutenant John Francis Thornell, Jr. was serving as Pilot of a P-51 Mustang Fighter Plane in the 328th Fighter Squadron, 352nd Fighter Group, Eighth Air Force, U.S. Army Air Forces.

On that day, 1LT Thornell’s unit was in aerial combat against German forces in the European Theater of Operations while escorting a bomber formation. During that mission, 1LT Thornell ignored the odds against him and led his flight of fighters against a vastly superior force of German fighters in the vicinity of Nienburg, Germany, attempting to intercept the American bomber formation. Determined to destroy the Germans, 1LT Thornell, accompanied by 2 other fighters of his squadron, attacked 3 enemy fighters and by his flying and gunnery skills, destroyed 2 of them and dispersed the rest. Later, 1LT Thornell was attacked by a lone German fighter that he outmaneuvered and destroyed, bringing his total enemy airplanes destroyed for the day to 3. 1LT Thornell’s flying skills, courageous actions and extraordinary heroism that day earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

At the end of World War II, John Thornell was a Triple Ace, credited with shooting down 17.25 enemy aircraft in aerial combat and 2 aircraft destroyed on the ground. After the war, in 1947 he transferred to the new U.S. Air Force.

Lieutenant Colonel Thornell's final Air Force assignment was as Chief of the Fighter Branch with the Inspector General Group at Norton Air Force Base, CA, from July 1967 until his retirement on 1 August 1971.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Silver Star Medal with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Distinguished Flying Cross with Silver Oak Leaf Cluster
Meritorious Service Medal
Air Medal with Silver Oak Leaf Cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
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 2 Bronze Stars
World War II Victory Medal
Army of Occupation Medal
National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Air Force Longevity Service Award with Silver and Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Command Pilot Badge

Distinguished Service Cross Citation

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to First Lieutenant (Air Corps) John Francis Thornell, Jr. (ASN: 0-797743), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a P-51 Fighter Airplane in the 328th Fighter Squadron, 352d Fighter Group, EIGHTH Air Force, in aerial combat against enemy forces on 8 May 1944, in the European Theater of Operations. On this date, Lieutenant Thornell, with complete disregard for the odds against him, led a flight against a vastly superior force of enemy fighters in the vicinity of Nienburg, Germany, and dispersed the enemy attempting to intercept a friendly bomber formation. Determined to destroy the enemy, accompanied by two other friendly fighters he attacked three enemy fighters and by courageous flying and skillful gunnery destroyed two of them. Later, Lieutenant Thornell was attacked by a lone enemy fighter whom he outmaneuvered and destroyed, bringing his total for the day to three enemy airplanes destroyed. The outstanding courage, coolness, and skill displayed by Lieutenant Thornell upon this occasion reflect highest credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.

Headquarters, U.S. Strategic Forces in Europe, General Orders No. 44 (July 22, 1944)

Congressional Gold Medal

The Congressional Gold Medal, created by the U.S. Mint, is the highest civilian honor Congress can give on behalf of the American people. On 20 May 2015, leaders from the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate presented the Congressional Gold Medal [see photo] to the American Fighter Aces Association at the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center Emancipation Hall.

More than 60,000 American fighter pilots engaged in aerial combat during World War I, World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. Of those pilots, only 1,447 earned the title of fighter “Ace” by downing at least five enemy aircraft. Lieutenant Colonel John Francis Thornell, Jr. was one of them, having been credited with 17.25 enemy aircraft in aerial combat and 2 aircraft destroyed on the ground earning him the title of fighter “Triple Ace”. At the time of the presentation of the Medal, only 75 of those Aces remained alive.

Death and Burial

Lieutenant Colonel John Francis Thornell, Jr. died on 3 September 1998. He is buried at the Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside, Riverside County, CA, in Section 48, Site 1795.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/1253346/john-francis-thornell