John E. Purdy
U.S. Air Force, 5th Air Force, 475th Fighter Group, 433rd Fighter Squadron
P-38 Lightning Pilot and Ace

Background
John E. Purdy was born June 17, 1919. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as an aviation cadet.

commissioned as a Lieutenant with serial number O-745250. Sent overseas to the overseas to the South West Pacific Area (SWPA) and assigned to the 5th Air Force, 475th Fighter Group (475th FG) "Satan's Angels", 433rd Fighter Squadron (433rd FS) "Possum" as a P-38 Lightning pilot and began flying combat missions in New Guinea and the Philippines.

Aircraft Assigned
P-38L ""Lizzie IV" 44-24842  force landed December 11, 1944
P-38L "Lizzie V" 44-25930  crash landed January 9, 1945

Aerial Victory Claims
Purdy was officially credited with seven aerial victories between May 16, 1944 until December 17, 1944.

Victory	Date	Location	Aircraft	Notes on claim
1	05/16/44			First aerial victory claim.
2	12/05/44			Second aerial victory claim.
3	12/05/44			Third aerial victory claim.
4	12/11/44	Leyte	Ki-43 Oscar	Fourth aerial victory claim.
5	12/11/44	Leyte	Ki-43 Oscar	Fifth aerial victory claim, became an "ace".
6	12/17/44	Mindoro	A6M5 Zero	Sixth aerial victory claim.
7	12/17/44	Mindoro	A6M5 Zero	Seventh aerial victory claim.

Awards
Purdy earned the Air Force Cross (AFC) and Purple Heart.

Memorials
Purdy passed away on September 8, 2003 at age 84. He is buried at Davids Cemetery in Kettering, OH.

References
USAF Historical Study No. 85 USAF Credits For The Destruction of Enemy Aircraft, World War II Alphabetical: Purdy, John E. page 155 (PDF page 162), Chronological List: 12/11/44 (two victory claims) page 486 (PDF page 491)
P-38 Lightning Aces of the Pacific and CBI (1997) by John Stanaway pages 56 (profile 40), 89 (Appendices P-38 aces, 475th FG pilots), 95 (color plate descriptions)
FindAGrave - John Edgar “Jack” Purdy (grave photo)

Contribute Information
Do you have photos or additional information to add?