First Lieutenant James Merrill Ackerman, Jr., was born September 18, 1919, in Paterson, New Jersey, to James Merrill Ackerman, Sr., and Catherine Wehrer Ackerman. James Senior had served in the Army during World War I. In October 1940 James enlisted in Battery F, 258th Field Artillery Regiment, of the New York National Guard. At the time he was working in a butcher shop in Suffern, New York. Following the United States entry into World War II James transferred to the Army Air Force as an Aviation Cadet. After receiving his pilot wings and being commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant he was assigned as a co-pilot to the 392nd Bomb Group flying Consolidated B-24 Liberators. The 392nd Bomb Group was stationed at RAF Wendling in Norfolk, England, and on June 6, 1944, flew its 100th combat mission in support of the D-Day landings at Normandy, France. James flew on D-Day and was on his 13th mission on June 13, 1944, when his B-24 was hit by German anti-aircraft fire while bombing an airfield near Laon, France. He was badly burned on his face before bailing out and the French civilians who found him turned him over to the Germans due to his injuries. James was treated in a German hospital in Rheims and when the Germans evacuated in late August he and the other patients were liberated by American forces. He returned to England on September 1, 1944. Following the end of World War II James left the Army Air Force and returned to his wife Madeleine, whom he had married in 1944. James was awarded the Air Medal and Purple Heart and would also receive the Prisoner of War Medal. He worked as an Instrument Technician with Bendix Aviation in Teterboro, New Jersey, while he and Madeleine raised a family of three sons and a daughter. After retiring from Bendix Aviation, James and Madeleine settled in Culpeper. James passed away January 17, 2005, survived by Madeleine, their children, 12 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. He now rests in Section 10 of Culpeper National Cemetery, close to his son Jonathan David Ackerman, who served in the Army and passed away in March 2005.

Note: Biographical information courtesy of 1st Lieutenant Ackerman's son Jeff Ackerman.

James Ackerman was assigned to a crew for a B-24. In England they were part of the 8th Air Force, 392nd Bomb Group, 577th Squadron and flew 12 successful bombing missions including the D-Day Invasion. On their 13th mission June 23, 1944, flying Lead Plane ( With extra men in the crew),"the aircraft took a direct hit by flak in #3 engine and the bomb bay, at the target. The plane immediately went into a dive, then pulled up slightly, rolled over and went out of control. They were shot down over enemy occupied, Laon, France. (5) chutes were seen." 2 of 24 planes were lost.
MISSING AIRCREW REPORT: #06215 AIRCRAFT: #42-95027 (NO NICKNAME) "B-PIus" 17th Mission (It was the Plane's 17th mission)

MISSING AIRCREW REPORT: #06215 AIRCRAFT: #42-95027 (NO NICKNAME) "B-PIus" 17th Mission

AIRCREW: WHITTEMORE (CA: GRAPER) * SQUADRON: 577th

CREW POSITIONS AND STATUS:

P (C)CAPT Graper, Melvin H. KIA
P 1/LT Whittemore, Warren T. POW
CP 2/LT Ackerman, James M. POW
N 2/LT Rich, Clarence B. EVD
B 2/LT Issenberg, Milton POW
NG/N 2/LT Birnbaum, Standford I. KIA
R/O S/S Ammon, Robert H. KIA
EnG T/S Peterson, Carl L. KIA
WG S/S Altemus, Charles V. POW
WG S/S Lampe, Maurice POW
TG S/S Tremlett, Robert S. KIA