John Allen Wiersema was born in 1922 in Illinois. He graduated from Fulton High School and later attended Central College in Pella, Iowa, Scovill Schools in Clinton, and Augustana College at Rock Island. Before enlisting, he was employed as a record clerk for the International Harvester Company at East Moline.

John enlisted on March 14, 1942, and received his wings and commission at Luke Field, Phoenix, Arizona, on October 30, 1942. On June 5, 1944, taking off from Station 411 airfield in High Alden, England, 1Lt Wiersema died when his aircraft was shot down by German anti-aircraft fire during mission #344 to St-Germain-en-Laye. His crash was observed by Capt Clarence E Van Cott.

Report by Capt Van Cott: - (Original) MACR 6195 - source: National Archives US: I was flying Floral White Three on June 5, 1944, and Lt Wiersema was flying as White Four. On our approach to the target, at about 2,000 feet, I glanced back to check if Lt Wiersema was in the right position when I observed a large explosion of flame coming from his engine cowling. The fire completely surrounded his fuselage from engine to tail. It hit the ground about two or three seconds later and exploded. It's my opinion that Lt Wiersema had no chance to get out of his plane because he went straight in, and only about two or three seconds elapsed between the moment he was hit and the moment he hit the ground.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, francecrashes39-45.net