John Willis McKanna 1915–1943

John Willis McKanna, 1915–1943 (aged 28 years)

Name

John Willis McKanna

Name: John Willis /McKanna/
Given names: John Willis
Surname: McKanna
Name prefix: 2LT

Gender Male

Events of close relatives
Birth	June 23, 1915 36 30 Juneau, AK
Birth of a sister	Elizabeth M McKanna 1920 (aged 4 years) Yakima, Yakima County, Washington
Death of a paternal grandmother	Katherine Alice Rooney May 2, 1939 (aged 23 years) Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California
Death	August 10, 1943 (aged 28 years) Morrow County, Oregon

Date differences

Family with parents
father	Links Birth: June 8, 1879 33 27 — Miles City, Custer County, Montana Marriage: 1909 — Douglas, Juneau, Alaska, USA Death: March 16, 1958 — Yakima, Yakima County, Washington Links Ancestors Compact tree Descendants Family book Fan chart Hourglass chart Interactive tree Pedigree Pedigree map Relationships Family with spouse Lillian Mary Penglase Emmett J McKanna Mary Lillian McKanna John Willis McKanna Elizabeth M McKanna Emmett Joseph McKanna 1879–1958 Birth: June 8, 1879 33 27 — Miles City, Custer County, Montana Death: March 16, 1958 — Yakima, Yakima County, Washington
mother	Links Birth: February 28, 1885 — Ishpeming, Marquette County, Michigan Marriage: 1909 — Douglas, Juneau, Alaska, USA Death: December 6, 1975 — Yakima, Yakima County, Washington Links Ancestors Compact tree Descendants Family book Fan chart Hourglass chart Interactive tree Pedigree Pedigree map Relationships Family with spouse Emmett Joseph McKanna Emmett J McKanna Mary Lillian McKanna John Willis McKanna Elizabeth M McKanna Lillian Mary Penglase 1885–1975 Birth: February 28, 1885 — Ishpeming, Marquette County, Michigan Death: December 6, 1975 — Yakima, Yakima County, Washington
Marriage	Marriage — 1909 — Douglas, Juneau, Alaska, USA
2 years elder brother	Links Birth: 1910 30 24 — Juneau, AK Death: 2003 — San Diego County, California Links Ancestors Compact tree Descendants Family book Fan chart Hourglass chart Interactive tree Pedigree Pedigree map Relationships Family with spouse Marjorie E Young Emmett J McKanna 1910–2003 Birth: 1910 30 24 — Juneau, AK Death: 2003 — San Diego County, California
3 years elder sister	Links Birth: July 22, 1912 33 27 — Juneau, Juneau Borough, Alaska Death: May 15, 2005 — Cheney, Spokane County, Washington Links Ancestors Compact tree Descendants Family book Fan chart Hourglass chart Interactive tree Pedigree Pedigree map Relationships Family with spouse Joseph Henry Dietzen Mary Joan Dietzen Katherine Regina Dietzen Thomas Anthony Dietzen Virginia Ruth Dietzen Mary Lillian McKanna 1912–2005 Birth: July 22, 1912 33 27 — Juneau, Juneau Borough, Alaska Death: May 15, 2005 — Cheney, Spokane County, Washington
3 years himself	Links Birth: June 23, 1915 36 30 — Juneau, AK Death: August 10, 1943 — Morrow County, Oregon Links Ancestors Compact tree Descendants Family book Fan chart Hourglass chart Interactive tree Pedigree Pedigree map Relationships John Willis McKanna 1915–1943 Birth: June 23, 1915 36 30 — Juneau, AK Death: August 10, 1943 — Morrow County, Oregon
6 years younger sister	Links Birth: 1920 40 34 — Yakima, Yakima County, Washington Death: 1982 — Seattle, King County, Washington Links Ancestors Compact tree Descendants Family book Fan chart Hourglass chart Interactive tree Pedigree Pedigree map Relationships Family with spouse John Joseph McFadden Elizabeth M McKanna 1920–1982 Birth: 1920 40 34 — Yakima, Yakima County, Washington Death: 1982 — Seattle, King County, Washington

Show all notes
Shared note	Second Lieutenant McKanna was the pilot of B-17F Flying Fortress #42-3503, serving with the 399th Bomb Squadron, 88th Bomb Group from the Walla Walla Army Air Base, Washington. While returning from a training mission over the Boardman Bombing Range, apparently an engine fire led to a gasoline explosion in the port wing, resulting in a catastrophic disintegration of the aircraft at 20,000 feet and it crashed, seventeen miles east of Arlington, Oregon, causing the deaths of all eight airmen aboard. The other service members who perished: 2nd Lt. James R West, Co-pilot 2nd Lt. Robert J Miller, Bombardier Sgt. Jesus P Diaz, Radio Operator Sgt. Richard H Laird, aerial gunner Sgt. William V Mac Dowell, Flight Engineer PFC Chester W Shultz, aerial gunner Pvt. Peter J Nardo, Asst. Radio Operator

Show all notes

Shared note

Second Lieutenant McKanna was the pilot of B-17F Flying Fortress #42-3503, serving with the 399th Bomb Squadron, 88th Bomb Group from the Walla Walla Army Air Base, Washington.

While returning from a training mission over the Boardman Bombing Range, apparently an engine fire led to a gasoline explosion in the port wing, resulting in a catastrophic disintegration of the aircraft at 20,000 feet and it crashed, seventeen miles east of Arlington, Oregon, causing the deaths of all eight airmen aboard.

The other service members who perished:

2nd Lt. James R West, Co-pilot
2nd Lt. Robert J Miller, Bombardier
Sgt. Jesus P Diaz, Radio Operator
Sgt. Richard H Laird, aerial gunner
Sgt. William V Mac Dowell, Flight Engineer
PFC Chester W Shultz, aerial gunner
Pvt. Peter J Nardo, Asst. Radio Operator

Extra information

Unique identifier

C69320F1ED304CE3B4D0D037C39FB197EB3E

Last change

March 11, 2023 – 21:33

Family navigator

Family with parents
father Parents Michael Bernard McKanna Katherine Alice Rooney	Emmett Joseph McKanna 1879–1958
mother	Lillian Mary Penglase 1885–1975
elder brother Family Marjorie E Young Private Private Private Private	Emmett J McKanna 1910–2003
elder sister Family Joseph Henry Dietzen Private Mary Joan Dietzen Private Katherine Regina Dietzen Thomas Anthony Dietzen Private Virginia Ruth Dietzen Private	Mary Lillian McKanna 1912–2005
himself	John Willis McKanna 1915–1943
younger sister Family John Joseph McFadden Private Private	Elizabeth M McKanna 1920–1982

Descendants

John Willis McKanna(1915–1943)