John Warren Long, Jr. (1919-1945)

John Long was from Manheim, Pennsylvania and, after high school at East Hempfield, he entered Dickinson in September 1937. He graduated four years later with the class of 1941. He was a member of the Mohler Scientific Club, the Glee Club, the German Club, and Sigma Chi fraternity. He was also a manager for the varsity soccer team.

Long entered the Air Corps in July, 1941 and trained as a navigator, earning his wings and his commission on May 2, 1942. He became an instructor for more than two years at Hondo Field in Texas before being assigned to combat duty in the Pacific in late 1944. He served as group navigator for the 38th Bomb Group of the 5th Air Force stationed in the Lingayen Gulf, winning the Air Medal.

On August 9, 1945, in an attack on Kyushu, Japan, John Long's bomber crashed and he was killed in action. This incident took place five days before the Japanese surrender and eight days before Long's twenty-sixth birthday.

More information about other Dickinson war casualties can be found through the online project "In Remembrance" (see link for related entries below).