John A. Shappell, 87, of Rantoul passed away July 21, 2008.
John was born and raised in Schuylkill Haven, Pa. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1940 following his high school graduation.
As an expert aircraft engine mechanic, John was selected to fly in the B-25 with Doolittle's Raid over Japan in 1942. It was the only time U.S. Army Air Force bombers were launched from a Navy aircraft carrier. All 16 aircraft were lost on the mission. He survived and returned through China. For this mission, John was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. Among his other awards are the Air Medal and Asiatic-Pacific Camp Medal for campaigns in India and Burma. John moved to Rantoul in the late 1950s when he was transferred to Chanute AFB. He retired as a master sergeant in 1960.
For the next 20 years, John taught and supervised aircraft electronics and radar courses on Chanute AFB. In his retirement years, he restocked many newspaper boxes in Rantoul. He was active in the American Legion.
John was predeceased by his wife, Lorena, and a son, John Jr. He is survived by his daughter Charlotte (and Gordon) Grant of Tampa, Fla., daughter Carolyn Bastian of Rantoul, son James Henry of Brandon, Fla., daughter Janice (and Paul) Cosgrove of Stow, Ohio, daughter Pamela Shappell of Rantoul, and son Joseph Richard (and Lori) Shappell of Aiken, S.C. John is survived also by eight grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.
Published in The News-Gazette on 7/24/2008
John was born and raised in Schuylkill Haven, Pa. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1940 following his high school graduation.
As an expert aircraft engine mechanic, John was selected to fly in the B-25 with Doolittle's Raid over Japan in 1942. It was the only time U.S. Army Air Force bombers were launched from a Navy aircraft carrier. All 16 aircraft were lost on the mission. He survived and returned through China. For this mission, John was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. Among his other awards are the Air Medal and Asiatic-Pacific Camp Medal for campaigns in India and Burma. John moved to Rantoul in the late 1950s when he was transferred to Chanute AFB. He retired as a master sergeant in 1960.
For the next 20 years, John taught and supervised aircraft electronics and radar courses on Chanute AFB. In his retirement years, he restocked many newspaper boxes in Rantoul. He was active in the American Legion.
John was predeceased by his wife, Lorena, and a son, John Jr. He is survived by his daughter Charlotte (and Gordon) Grant of Tampa, Fla., daughter Carolyn Bastian of Rantoul, son James Henry of Brandon, Fla., daughter Janice (and Paul) Cosgrove of Stow, Ohio, daughter Pamela Shappell of Rantoul, and son Joseph Richard (and Lori) Shappell of Aiken, S.C. John is survived also by eight grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.
Published in The News-Gazette on 7/24/2008
John A. Shappell, 87, of Rantoul passed away July 21, 2008.
John was born and raised in Schuylkill Haven, Pa. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1940 following his high school graduation.
As an expert aircraft engine mechanic, John was selected to fly in the B-25 with Doolittle's Raid over Japan in 1942. It was the only time U.S. Army Air Force bombers were launched from a Navy aircraft carrier. All 16 aircraft were lost on the mission. He survived and returned through China. For this mission, John was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. Among his other awards are the Air Medal and Asiatic-Pacific Camp Medal for campaigns in India and Burma. John moved to Rantoul in the late 1950s when he was transferred to Chanute AFB. He retired as a master sergeant in 1960.
For the next 20 years, John taught and supervised aircraft electronics and radar courses on Chanute AFB. In his retirement years, he restocked many newspaper boxes in Rantoul. He was active in the American Legion.
John was predeceased by his wife, Lorena, and a son, John Jr. He is survived by his daughter Charlotte (and Gordon) Grant of Tampa, Fla., daughter Carolyn Bastian of Rantoul, son James Henry of Brandon, Fla., daughter Janice (and Paul) Cosgrove of Stow, Ohio, daughter Pamela Shappell of Rantoul, and son Joseph Richard (and Lori) Shappell of Aiken, S.C. John is survived also by eight grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.
Published in The News-Gazette on 7/24/2008
John was born and raised in Schuylkill Haven, Pa. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1940 following his high school graduation.
As an expert aircraft engine mechanic, John was selected to fly in the B-25 with Doolittle's Raid over Japan in 1942. It was the only time U.S. Army Air Force bombers were launched from a Navy aircraft carrier. All 16 aircraft were lost on the mission. He survived and returned through China. For this mission, John was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. Among his other awards are the Air Medal and Asiatic-Pacific Camp Medal for campaigns in India and Burma. John moved to Rantoul in the late 1950s when he was transferred to Chanute AFB. He retired as a master sergeant in 1960.
For the next 20 years, John taught and supervised aircraft electronics and radar courses on Chanute AFB. In his retirement years, he restocked many newspaper boxes in Rantoul. He was active in the American Legion.
John was predeceased by his wife, Lorena, and a son, John Jr. He is survived by his daughter Charlotte (and Gordon) Grant of Tampa, Fla., daughter Carolyn Bastian of Rantoul, son James Henry of Brandon, Fla., daughter Janice (and Paul) Cosgrove of Stow, Ohio, daughter Pamela Shappell of Rantoul, and son Joseph Richard (and Lori) Shappell of Aiken, S.C. John is survived also by eight grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.
Published in The News-Gazette on 7/24/2008
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