Aviation Cadet John Shell ‘Johnny’ Rush was the son of Elmer Joe Rush and Bertha Ann Shell. He was graduated from Science Hill High School in 1943 and had preflight training at North Carolina State College at Raleigh. He completed the first phase of his flight training at the 2153rd AAF Base Unit at Woodward Field in Camden, S.C. in August, 1944 and was then assigned to the basic training flying school in the AAF Eastern Flying Training Command.
Died non Battle 19 January 1945
Lima News, 22 January 1945
Seymour, Ind., Jan. 22 – The second of two aviation cadets killed in the crash of a training plane near Freeman Field yesterday was identified today as Kenneth J. Pocta, son of Joseph Pocta of Cleveland, Ohio. The other victim was John S. Rush of Johnson City, Tenn.
An investigation was begun. The crash occurred when the plane struck a high tension wire as the cadets were returning from a night training flight.
- Rank: Aviation Cadet
- Date of birth: 14 February 1925
- Date of death: 19 January 1945
- County: Washington
- Hometown: Johnson City
- Service Branch: Army/Army Air Forces
- Conflict: World War II
- Burial/Memorial Location: Monte Vista Memorial Park, Johnson City, Washington County, TN
- Location In Memorial: Pillar XIX, Middle Panel
- Contact us to sponsor John S. Rush
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