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Patrick Griffin was born in New Jersey on March 26, 1918, to parents Patrick and Mary Griffin. He had two older brothers, John and James, and a younger sister, Mary. They resided at 181 Highland Road and were members of the Church of the Resurrection. Patrick enlisted and served as an officer in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II.
Date of Birth: 3/26/1918
Died On: 5/15/1944
Street Address: 181 Highland Road
Service Number: 759866
Branch of Service: U.S. Army Air Corps – U.S. Army – 446 Bombardment Sqd., 321 Bombing Group
Griffin was a bombardier in the 12th Air Force on a B-25 Mitchell, an American twin-engined medium bomber. The B-25 saw service across four decades.
Griffin was assigned to the 321st Bombardment Group. On May 15th, 1944, his B-25 and eight other planes were sent on a mission to target a railroad bridge in Orvieto, Italy. Griffin served as the bombardier on his plane which was piloted by 1st Lt. Rolland Othick.
That same day, four out of the nine planes were shot down, one of which was Griffin’s B-25. The plane crash-landed on the Island of Pianosa. Griffin and his crew were all killed in the crash.
Griffin’s remains were returned to the U.S. in August of 1949, and he is now buried at Mt. Calvary Cemetery in White Plains, NY. More on Griffin.
