John Francis Thornell Jr was born in Stoughton Massachusetts, on the 19th of April 1921. Thornell entered the US Army Air Force in 1942 and graduated from flight school on the 16th of February, 1943 at Graig Field Alabama. He joined the 328th Fighter Squadron of the 352nd Fighter Group at the end of December 1943. During his combat tour he scored 17.25 kills from January the 30th 1944 until the 21st of June 1944. Thornell stayed with the Air Force until 1971 where he retired as a Lieutenant colonel.
