John Campbell Webb
Left Formation May 19, 2018
From the 95th BG Memorials Foundation Facebook page:
In deep sadness, the Memorials Foundation and the Heritage Association announce that John Webb of Three Rivers, TX, left formation on the early morning of 19 May 2018 at age 95. John was a 334th top turret gunner, flying regularly on Bob Cozen’s crew. John died peacefully in his home.
John leaves his beloved wife Fernanda and a large family who adored him. As his obituary reads:
“Mr. Webb is survived by his wife Fernanda Webb; four children, Riley Webb and wife Jennifer of Three Rivers, Karla Webb of San Antonio, Ann McCarty and husband Wayne of Nacogdoches, Peggy Bledsoe and husband Gill of Lampasas; and two sisters, Louise Mohan and Joyce Lester of Houston. He leaves behind 12 grandchildren, Kelsey Webb, Kailey Webb, JonRiley Webb, Trista Webb, Brian McCarty, Robert McCarty, Kerry Webb, Carolina Juarez, Wendy Cox, Jason Bledsoe, and Audrey Bledsoe. He also had several great grandchildren. John was preceded in death by his parents Riley Parks Webb and Beulah Mae Webb of Three Rivers, son John Riley Webb of San Antonio, brother Riley Parks Webb Jr. of Jourdanton, and sisters Ruby Earle Bostick of San Antonio and Clarice Webb Clark of Houston.
“John Webb served in the Air Force from 1941-1945 when he was honorably discharged. He was a member of the 95th Bomb Group organization and Squadron B-1 2123 Army Air Force Base Unit serving as an AAF Gunnery instructor and Technical Sargent with an Air Crew Badge. He was a Flying Fortress crew member as a top turret gunner and bombardier in the Air Offensive Europe. John C. Webb was awarded numerous awards such as the Air Crew Badge, Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Cluster, Good Conduct Medal, Distinguished Unit Citation with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Honorable Service Lapel Button, and the Distinguished Flying Cross for his extraordinary achievement while serving as top turret gunner of a B-17 bomber on 20 bombardment missions over enemy occupied continental Europe.
“According to the Armed Forces John ‘displayed great courage and skill, fighting from his gun position where he destroyed one enemy airplane, warded off many enemy attacks and materially aided in the success of each of the 20 missions. The courage, coolness and skill displayed by Sargent John C. Webb on all of these occasions reflect the highest credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.’
“He was a lifelong rancher in Live Oak County and Cameron County, Texas, as well as in Sota La Marina, Mexico.