Dean, John Irwin, 1918-2002
Person
Dates
- Existence: 1918 - 2002
Biographical Information
John Irwin Dean was born in Chicago, Illinois, November 27, 1918. He graduated from Purdue University in 1940 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering. While at Purdue he was a member of Kappa Sigma, Cary Club, Debris, and the Student Senate. He entered Wharton in 1940, but when Pearl Harbor was bombed, he immediately joined the Army Air Force.
He underwent flight training at Laughlin Army Air Field, Lubbock, Texas, and trained in the Martin B-26 Marauder, a two engine medium bomber. The Marauder had a range of 1,000 miles and six hours flight time. It was known as the widow maker and flying coffin. Dean earned his wings as a B-26 bomber pilot in 1943.
Dean was a member of the 8th and 9th Air Force (originally they were the 8th and then were attached to the 9th), 394th Bomb Group – 587th Bombardment Squadron, 1943-1946. He flew his B-26 to England via South America and North Africa. He flew 35 missions over Germany and France. The 394th was deactivated in 1946. Dean was awarded the Bronze Star, the Silver Star and the Croix de Guerre.
After the war Dean lived in Chicago and went to work as a sales manager for Sterling Tool Products Company. He then accepted a position as Director of Marketing for, then fledgling operation, Dymo Products Company. He later moved to San Francisco. Dymo was acquired in 1978 by Esselte, a Swedish firm and the San Francisco office was closed.
John Irwin Dean passed in San Francisco, March 27, 2002.
He underwent flight training at Laughlin Army Air Field, Lubbock, Texas, and trained in the Martin B-26 Marauder, a two engine medium bomber. The Marauder had a range of 1,000 miles and six hours flight time. It was known as the widow maker and flying coffin. Dean earned his wings as a B-26 bomber pilot in 1943.
Dean was a member of the 8th and 9th Air Force (originally they were the 8th and then were attached to the 9th), 394th Bomb Group – 587th Bombardment Squadron, 1943-1946. He flew his B-26 to England via South America and North Africa. He flew 35 missions over Germany and France. The 394th was deactivated in 1946. Dean was awarded the Bronze Star, the Silver Star and the Croix de Guerre.
After the war Dean lived in Chicago and went to work as a sales manager for Sterling Tool Products Company. He then accepted a position as Director of Marketing for, then fledgling operation, Dymo Products Company. He later moved to San Francisco. Dymo was acquired in 1978 by Esselte, a Swedish firm and the San Francisco office was closed.
John Irwin Dean passed in San Francisco, March 27, 2002.
Citation
Collection file information.Found in 1 Collection or Record:
John Dean scrapbook page and Purdue diploma
Collection — Box: Communal Collections 49, Placement: 03
Identifier: MSA 317
Scope and Contents
The collection consists of John I. Dean's 1940 Purdue University diploma, and one scrapbook page belonging to Major Dean. The front page is titled "All Purdue Men," Lubbock Army Flying School, Lubbock Texas, May 1943. The scrapbook second page (or back page) is titled: "My Advanced Flying School Instructor and Students, Lubbock Texas, June 1943." Men identified in the photo are: L-R (standing) Bill Brucker, Al Edes, Burt Walkup (The Instructor), Me [John Irwin Dean], Paul Cooper. L-R...
Dates:
1940 - 1943