John Knox Winchester (1919 - 1968)

Born 4 Apr 1919 in Clayton, Union, New Mexico, United States

Died 6 Jan 1968 at age 48 in Clayton, Union, New Mexico, United States

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Biography

John Winchester was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States).

John Winchester was awarded the Air Medal.

Captain John Winchester served in the United States Army Air Forces in World War II
Service started: 3 Feb 1941
Unit(s): 66th Bombardment Squadron, 44th Bombardment Group, Ninth Air Force
Service ended: 6 Sep 1945

John was born 4 April 1919 in Clayton, New Mexico.

John was the co-pilot aboard the B-24 Liberator bomber, Lady Luck, #41-23778-F, participating in Operation Tidal Wave the low-level attack on the Romanian oil refineries at Ploesti on 1 August 1943. John was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for the mission.

He married Loreta Botkin.^[1]

He passed away 6 January 1968 in Union County General Hospital, New Mexico.^[2][3]

• 1920 - Union, New Mexico, United States.^[4]
• 1930 - Clayton, Union, New Mexico, United States.^[5]
• 1940 - Election Precinct 11A Clayton, Union, New Mexico, United States.^[6]
• 1950 - Union, New Mexico, United States.^[7]

Sources

1. ↑ Botkin-Winchester: "Newspapers.com"
   The Hutchinson News (Hutchinson, Kansas) Sun, May 16, 1943, page 3
   Newspapers Clip: 134296954 (accessed 29 October 2023)
2. ↑ John Winchester Services Today, Albuquerque Journal, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 08 Jan 1968, Mon • Page 26
3. ↑ John K. Winchester: "Newspapers.com"
   The Amarillo Globe-Times (Amarillo, Texas) Mon, Jan 8, 1968, page 32
   Newspapers Clip: 134298651 (accessed 29 October 2023)
4. ↑ "United States Census, 1920", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M4K3-PY9 : 2 February 2021), John K Winchester in entry for John H Knox, 1920.
5. ↑ "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XCMD-7J2 : accessed 2 June 2022), John Knox Winchester in household of John Winchester, Clayton, Union, New Mexico, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 14, sheet 5B, line 53, family 121, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 1400; FHL microfilm 2,341,135.
6. ↑ "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9M1-2ZW2?cc=2000219&wc=QZX1-L6K%3A790104701%2C794178501%2C794209601%2C951506701 : accessed 2 June 2022), New Mexico > Union > Election Precinct 11A Clayton, Clayton > 30-10 Election Precinct 11A Clayton, Clayton Town S of Main, W of 3rd and 3rd extended, and E of Colorado & Southern Railway; St. Joseph Hospital > image 6 of 28; citing Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012.
7. ↑ 1950 Census: "United States 1950 Census"
   citing Page: 74; Line: 7; Digital film/folder number: 108857033; Image number: 30
   FamilySearch Record: 6XKR-K5XQ (accessed 29 October 2023)
   FamilySearch Image: 3QHK-9QHW-3DK5
   John K Winchester (31), married, Photographer, head of household in Union, New Mexico, United States. Born in New Mexico.

• Military: "U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947"
  National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; Wwii Draft Registration Cards For New Mexico, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147; Box: 134
  Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 2238 #6163152 (accessed 29 October 2023)
  Registration Date: 16 Oct 1940; Weight: 165; Name: John Knox Winchester; Birth Place: Clayton Union, New Mexico, USA; Residence Place: Clayton, Union, New Mexico, USA; Complexion: Light; Height: 6 2;
  Household Members (Name) Age Relationship:
  John Knox Winchester 21 Self (Head)
  John C Winchester Father; Next of Kin: John C Winchester; Registration Place: Clayton, Union, New Mexico, USA; Employer: None; Relationship to Draftee: Self (Head); Hair Color: Brown; Race: White; Birth Date: 4 Apr 1919; Age: 21; Eye Color: Blue.
• "United States World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K852-76X : 5 December 2014), John K Winchester, enlisted 03 Feb 1941, Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States; citing "Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, ca. 1938-1946," database, The National Archives: Access to Archival Databases (AAD) (http://aad.archives.gov : National Archives and Records Administration, 2002); NARA NAID 1263923, National Archives at College Park, Maryland.
• New Mexicans Honored for Ploesti Raid, The Santa Fe New Mexican, Santa Fe, New Mexico, 17 Nov 1943, Wed • Page 8
• Clayton Flier on Way Home: "Newspapers.com"
  Amarillo Daily News (Amarillo, Texas) Mon, Aug 14, 1944, page 3
  Newspapers Clip: 134298034 (accessed 29 October 2023)
• Military: "New Mexico, U.S., World War II Records, 1941-1945"
  New Mexico Commission of Public Records, State Records Center and Archives; Santa Fe, New Mexico; Subsubseries: Military Discharges; Box Number: 16653; Box Title: Military Discharges Williams - Woods
  Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 8867 #110398 (accessed 29 October 2023)
  Enlistment Date: 10 Mar 1943; Discharge Place: Fort Logan, Colorado, USA; Rank: Captain; Discharge Date: 6 Sep 1945; Birth Place: Clayton, New Mexico; Enlistment Place: Union, New Mexico, USA; Record Type: Discharges; Birth Date: 4 Apr 1919; Race: White; Name: John K Winchester.
• Memorial: Find a Grave (has image)
  Find A Grave: Memorial #16508897 (accessed 29 October 2023)
  Memorial page for John Knox Winchester (4 Apr 1919-6 Jan 1968), citing Clayton Cemetery, Clayton, Union County, New Mexico, USA; Maintained by Anonymous (contributor 8021295).
• Military: "U.S., Headstone Applications for Military Veterans, 1861-1985"
  National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, MO, USA; Applications for Headstones, 1/1/1925 - 6/30/1970; NAID: 596118; Record Group Number: 92; Record Group Title: Records of the Office of the Quartermaster General
  Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 2375 #2936994 (accessed 29 October 2023)
  Service Branch: Air Force Army Air Corps; Cemetery Location: Clayton, New Mexico, USA; Cemetery: Clayton Cemetery; Service Number: Ao 740 131; 18016147; Discharge Date: 6 Sep 1945; Rank: Captain; Birth Date: 4 Apr 1919; Enlistment Date: 10 Mar 1943; Name: John Knox Winchester; Unit: 2525th Unit; Death Date: 6 Jan 1968.