James served as a First Lieutenant and Navigator on B-17G #43-38780, 532nd Bomber Squadron, 381st Bomber Group, U.S. Army Air Force during World War II.
He resided in Prince George's County, Maryland prior to the war.
He enlisted in the Army on February 27, 1943 in Baltimore, Maryland. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being employed in the building of aircraft and also as Single, without dependents.
B-17G #43-38780 took off with a crew of 9 on a bombing mission over Mannheim, Germany. Over the target they were hit by ground anti-aircraft fire. They were last seen above Gommersheim, SW of Mannheim with their No. 2 engine on fire. The engine fell off and the fire extended back to the waist section. The left wing was on fire and exploded. The aircraft was seen to go down into a deep spin, apparently out of control, then to slip off to the left and roll over on its back. Six parachutes were reported but they disappeared in the clouds and there was no report with regard to whether or not they opened. The Fortress crashed in a field in Mannheim-Neckarau.
James was "Killed In Action" in this crash during the war.
He was awarded the Air Medal and the Purple Heart.
He was originally interred overseas and was later repatriated here on December 17, 1948.
Service # O-722281
( Bio by: Russ Pickett )
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Airmen who perished on B-17G #43-38780:
Belskis, Leo ~ 1st Lt, Pilot, IL
Collett, James V. ~ 1st Lt, Navigator, MD
Laurett, Lynn J., Jr. ~ S/Sgt, Ball Turret Gunner, LA
Newman, Walter R. ~ T/Sgt, Engineer, CA
Perrin, Ross W., Jr. ~ 2nd Lt, Bombardier, TN
Rogers, Robert P. ~ S/Sgt, Tail Gunner, TX
Vaughn, Glenn C. ~ 2nd Lt, Co-Pilot, VA
Airmen who survived and became POW's:
McCoy, Elvis A. ~ T/Sgt, Radio Operator, OK
Suggs, Durward V. ~ S/Sgt, Right Waist Gunner, CA
( Crew Report by: Russ Pickett )
He resided in Prince George's County, Maryland prior to the war.
He enlisted in the Army on February 27, 1943 in Baltimore, Maryland. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being employed in the building of aircraft and also as Single, without dependents.
B-17G #43-38780 took off with a crew of 9 on a bombing mission over Mannheim, Germany. Over the target they were hit by ground anti-aircraft fire. They were last seen above Gommersheim, SW of Mannheim with their No. 2 engine on fire. The engine fell off and the fire extended back to the waist section. The left wing was on fire and exploded. The aircraft was seen to go down into a deep spin, apparently out of control, then to slip off to the left and roll over on its back. Six parachutes were reported but they disappeared in the clouds and there was no report with regard to whether or not they opened. The Fortress crashed in a field in Mannheim-Neckarau.
James was "Killed In Action" in this crash during the war.
He was awarded the Air Medal and the Purple Heart.
He was originally interred overseas and was later repatriated here on December 17, 1948.
Service # O-722281
( Bio by: Russ Pickett )
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Airmen who perished on B-17G #43-38780:
Belskis, Leo ~ 1st Lt, Pilot, IL
Collett, James V. ~ 1st Lt, Navigator, MD
Laurett, Lynn J., Jr. ~ S/Sgt, Ball Turret Gunner, LA
Newman, Walter R. ~ T/Sgt, Engineer, CA
Perrin, Ross W., Jr. ~ 2nd Lt, Bombardier, TN
Rogers, Robert P. ~ S/Sgt, Tail Gunner, TX
Vaughn, Glenn C. ~ 2nd Lt, Co-Pilot, VA
Airmen who survived and became POW's:
McCoy, Elvis A. ~ T/Sgt, Radio Operator, OK
Suggs, Durward V. ~ S/Sgt, Right Waist Gunner, CA
( Crew Report by: Russ Pickett )
James served as a First Lieutenant and Navigator on B-17G #43-38780, 532nd Bomber Squadron, 381st Bomber Group, U.S. Army Air Force during World War II.
He resided in Prince George's County, Maryland prior to the war.
He enlisted in the Army on February 27, 1943 in Baltimore, Maryland. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being employed in the building of aircraft and also as Single, without dependents.
B-17G #43-38780 took off with a crew of 9 on a bombing mission over Mannheim, Germany. Over the target they were hit by ground anti-aircraft fire. They were last seen above Gommersheim, SW of Mannheim with their No. 2 engine on fire. The engine fell off and the fire extended back to the waist section. The left wing was on fire and exploded. The aircraft was seen to go down into a deep spin, apparently out of control, then to slip off to the left and roll over on its back. Six parachutes were reported but they disappeared in the clouds and there was no report with regard to whether or not they opened. The Fortress crashed in a field in Mannheim-Neckarau.
James was "Killed In Action" in this crash during the war.
He was awarded the Air Medal and the Purple Heart.
He was originally interred overseas and was later repatriated here on December 17, 1948.
Service # O-722281
( Bio by: Russ Pickett )
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Airmen who perished on B-17G #43-38780:
Belskis, Leo ~ 1st Lt, Pilot, IL
Collett, James V. ~ 1st Lt, Navigator, MD
Laurett, Lynn J., Jr. ~ S/Sgt, Ball Turret Gunner, LA
Newman, Walter R. ~ T/Sgt, Engineer, CA
Perrin, Ross W., Jr. ~ 2nd Lt, Bombardier, TN
Rogers, Robert P. ~ S/Sgt, Tail Gunner, TX
Vaughn, Glenn C. ~ 2nd Lt, Co-Pilot, VA
Airmen who survived and became POW's:
McCoy, Elvis A. ~ T/Sgt, Radio Operator, OK
Suggs, Durward V. ~ S/Sgt, Right Waist Gunner, CA
( Crew Report by: Russ Pickett )
He resided in Prince George's County, Maryland prior to the war.
He enlisted in the Army on February 27, 1943 in Baltimore, Maryland. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being employed in the building of aircraft and also as Single, without dependents.
B-17G #43-38780 took off with a crew of 9 on a bombing mission over Mannheim, Germany. Over the target they were hit by ground anti-aircraft fire. They were last seen above Gommersheim, SW of Mannheim with their No. 2 engine on fire. The engine fell off and the fire extended back to the waist section. The left wing was on fire and exploded. The aircraft was seen to go down into a deep spin, apparently out of control, then to slip off to the left and roll over on its back. Six parachutes were reported but they disappeared in the clouds and there was no report with regard to whether or not they opened. The Fortress crashed in a field in Mannheim-Neckarau.
James was "Killed In Action" in this crash during the war.
He was awarded the Air Medal and the Purple Heart.
He was originally interred overseas and was later repatriated here on December 17, 1948.
Service # O-722281
( Bio by: Russ Pickett )
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Airmen who perished on B-17G #43-38780:
Belskis, Leo ~ 1st Lt, Pilot, IL
Collett, James V. ~ 1st Lt, Navigator, MD
Laurett, Lynn J., Jr. ~ S/Sgt, Ball Turret Gunner, LA
Newman, Walter R. ~ T/Sgt, Engineer, CA
Perrin, Ross W., Jr. ~ 2nd Lt, Bombardier, TN
Rogers, Robert P. ~ S/Sgt, Tail Gunner, TX
Vaughn, Glenn C. ~ 2nd Lt, Co-Pilot, VA
Airmen who survived and became POW's:
McCoy, Elvis A. ~ T/Sgt, Radio Operator, OK
Suggs, Durward V. ~ S/Sgt, Right Waist Gunner, CA
( Crew Report by: Russ Pickett )
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