Sgt John Alexander Wright was the only child of his parents:
John Wright ( 18 August 1877 - 2 November 1945 ) and
Janet Watson Wright ( 23 May 1885 - 3 July 1963 ).
His father was born in England and his mother in Scotland.
They were married in April 1920 and their residence was
on Ireson ( now Joyce ) street in Lynn, Massachusetts.
His occupation was a machinist at the the General Electric Plant in
Lynn.
Their residence in 1930 was at 72 Greenwood Road and
by 1940 had moved to 23 Echo Grove.
Both are within in few miles of the GE Plant.
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In the
Introduction
section
are orientation maps, Mr Wright's and his son's Draft Registration
cards ,
and newspaper articles.
________________________
Sgt Wright attended Lynn Classical High School, graduating in 1941.
He began working as a machinist apprentice at the same GE plant as
his father.
Based on Mr Wright's 1942 Draft Registration Card,
they did not work in the same building.
Two articles mention that he was attending night classes at the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology ( MIT ).
During this time MIT was on a war footing.
From the Report of the President of MIT, 1941-1942:
There was a program in place called
Special War Training.
These classes were
primarily for Navy and Army Air Force Officers.
However, civilians were allowed to take some courses that emphasized
training men and women in the
technical areas needed by government and industry.
Classes were free to anyone 18 or older.
_______________
Following this commentary are
Sgt Wright's Enlistment Record and a list of his stations.
_________
He enlisted on 11 February 1943 at Boston.
His first station was basic training in Miami Beach followed by
Radio Schools at Chicago ( most likely at the Stevens Hotel ) and
Scott Field, Illinois.
His next station was at Harlingen Texas from
September through November 1943
for gunnery training.
This was followed by Salt Lake City and Kearns AAF, Salt Lake City,
during November and December 1943.
Kearns AAF was an Overseas Replacement Training Center.
[ Note : Not certain why he was sent there ]
In January 1944 he was transferred to Walker AAF, Victoria, Kansas,
with the 462nd BG (VH ), 58th Bomb Wing ( VH ).
________________________________________
In December 1943 the 500th Bomb Group was activated in Idaho.
There was one officer and two or three enlisted men.
They were transferred to Clovis AAF, New Mexico, in January 1944.
The Air Echelon remained there while
the Ground Echelon was sent to
Walker AAF, Victoria, Kansas,
gaining experience while working on the B-29s of
the 462nd Bomb Group, 58th Bomb Wing.
The four Bomb Groups of the 58th Bomb Wing departed Kansas
for the CBI theater beginning in
March and April 1944.
The Air Echelon of the 500th Bomb Group ( VH)
transfered to Walker AAF in April 1944.
sources: Jim Bowman Day by Day
Mauer and Mauer
Air Force Combat Units of WWII
_____________________________________________________________
Sgt Wright's name is in the 500th Bomb Group ( VH )
30 May 1944 Roster of Crews.
He was assigned to Major Goldsworthy's crew.
They departed for for Saipan in October 1944.
See the Goldsworthy Crew at
1st Lt
Henry H Warde
for details.
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