John Alexander "Jack" Siegel

John Alexander "Jack" Siegel

John Alexander “Jack” Siegel was born in Erie on May 5, 1922.  Son of Ella (Franz) and Edward Siegel, Jack grew up in Erie with his older siblings Richard “Dick” and Charlene (Petrucelli).  He attended St. Joseph’s Elementary School and Academy High School, graduating in 1940.  He attended Findlay College in Ohio for a time prior to marrying his high school sweetheart Geraldine Scibetta of Erie in 1942.  Shortly thereafter, Jack enlisted in the United States Army Air Force.

 

After undergoing flight training in the South where he was recognized as an outstanding member of the select group which attained fighter pilot status, Jack accepted a commission as 2nd Lieutenant in 1944.  He was assigned to the 356th Fighter Group, Eighth Air Force, stationed at RAF Martlesham Heath in England, where he flew combat missions in P-47 “Thunderbolts” and later in P-51 “Mustangs”.

 

Despite excellent leadership, the 356th (known as the “hard luck” fighter group) suffered the highest ratio of casualties to enemy aircraft “kills” of all Eighth Air Force fighter groups.  The Martlesham P-51s flew more than 430 combat missions over Central Europe.  For its role in “Operation Market-Garden” in the Netherlands, the 356th Fighter Group earned the rarely bestowed Distinguished Unit Citation.  In addition to this honor, Jack personally earned the American Campaign Medal, a WWII Victory Medal, and Air Medal with one oak leaf cluster, the European-African-Middle Eastern Medal with 3 battle stars, and the Distinguished Unit Badge.

 

Having survived his experience as a fighter pilot, First Lieutenant Siegel returned to Erie in 1946 and resumed his college education at Edinboro College (now University).  He had 2 children, John Jr. (1945) and Joan (1948) prior to the end of his marriage to Geraldine.

 

Jack subsequently rejoined the Air Force and flew fighters during the Korean conflict.  He later met and married Lieutenant Margaret “Marge” Yelvert, R.N. while stationed at Scott AFB in Illinois where he was discharged in 1956.  Following Marge’s discharge in 1965, the couple settled near Homestead AFB in Florida where Jack passed away on April 3, 1974.

 

In addition to Geraldine, John, and Joan (Bertolotti) who all reside in Northern California and Marge of Goldsboro, North Carolina; Jack is survived by sister-in-law, Frances (Bleil) Siegel of Erie as well as numerous Siegel, Scibetta, and Petrucelli descendants.