John Arthur Lawson

Their Story

John Arthur Lawson was born on June 14, 1918, in Dixon, IL, to Francis and Alice (Gourley) Lawson.^[1] In 1936, Lawson graduated from Moline High School in Moline, Illinois. He then began working at John Deere Harvester Works, as a drafting engineer, and in early 1941 he entered the service.^[2] In September of 1942, Lawson started his aviation cadet training at the Army Air base in Santa Ana, California.^[3] A couple months later, he married Jeanice Meredith Hieronymus at the base chapel.^[4] While at Stockton field, California, Lawson was appointed 2^nd lieutenant in the Army Air Corps in mid-1943. He was then transferred to the replacement center in Boise, Idaho.^[5]

By early 1944, Lawson was stationed with the Liberator Division of the 8^th Army Air Force in England. He had been co-piloting the B-24 Liberator “Chumbley.”^[6] This aircraft was a heavy bomber that was especially used against German forces across Europe, but it was also used in other areas of the war as well.^[7] For his bombardment missions against Germany, Lawson was awarded the air medal with two oak leaf clusters in early 1944.^[8] On May 12, 1944, Lawson was reported missing in action during a mission over Germany; he had been co-piloting a B-24 Liberator. The following month, Lawson was reported as a prisoner of war at the German camp Stalag Luft 3. Later, he was transferred to German camp Stalag 7A. In May of 1945, Lawson was liberated from Stalag 7A.^[9]

After being discharged from the army air corps, Lawson worked at Frizzelle & Parson’s Tool and Die Sinking Co. in Moline, Illinois. He remained at this job until February 1, 1995. On February 11, 1995, Lawson passed away at Hospice of the Valley in Scottsdale, Arizona. He was survived by his wife, three sons, six grandchildren, sister, and brother.^[10]