Foil: 5 Panel: 3 Column: 2 Line: 74

Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:
Dee Gregory

Graduating from The William Penn Aircraft School in Philadelphia at age 18, John enlisted I the 103d Observation Squadron of the Pennsylvania Air National Guard.

He purchased his first aircraft, an “Avro Avian” (an all wood trainer), from Amelia Earhart who brought it to the United States. In 1941 he went into active duty as a Second Lieutenant. As a Captain assigned to anti-submarine patrols, he received an award in 1943 for his flights over Cuba.

That same year he took delivery of a brand new B-24H which he christened The Green Hornet. He was soon flying it out of Italy, assigned to a 15th Army Air Force heavy bombardment group. On the fourth mission over Weiner Neustadt, Austria, the Hornet hit 20 miles of heavy flak and German Me109 fighter aircraft attack. She made it back to base with over 640 bullet holes in her side – more than any other plane that survived World War II. Three crewmen received the Purple Heart. Fernsler was awarded the Air Medal.