John Elliotte Bean was born on May 25, 1921, in Yolande, Tuscaloosa County, Alabama. He was the son of Asa Hodges Bean and Myrtle May Peck Bean. He enlisted in the service on June 4, 1942. He served in the 40th Depot Repair Squadron, 40th Air Depot Group, as a Corporal and Radio Operator of B-17-G #43-38847 during World War II.

On November 25, 1944, B-17G-95 #43-38847 crashed into Clee Hill near Ludlow, Shropshire, while en route from Stansted Airfield to Northern Ireland via Burtonwood. Adverse weather caused the aircraft, carrying three crew members and three passengers, to drift 28 degrees off course. Efforts to regain altitude were unsuccessful, and the plane collided with a quarry face, disintegrating on impact. Tragically, all on board lost their lives.

Cpl Bean died in an ambulance on the way to Ludlow Cottage Hospital and is now buried in the Elmwood Cemetery and Mausoleum, Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama, USA.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com