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GM2C James William Chandler
Monument

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GM2C James William Chandler Veteran

Birth
Tioga, Grayson County, Texas, USA
Death
28 Apr 1944 (aged 18)
At Sea
Monument
Coton, South Cambridgeshire District, Cambridgeshire, England Add to Map
Plot
Tablets of the Missing
Memorial ID
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Entered the service from Texas.
USN World War II
Gunner's Mate, 2nd/ Cl. James W. Chandler MIA/KIA Operation Tiger, April 28, 1944
Hometown Denton, Texas
Wife, Mrs. Patsy Jane Chandler
Service ID: 3567487
Awards: Purple Heart

"Exercise Tiger"
Mission Date: 28-Apr-44
LST-289 was laid down on 14 September 1943 at Ambridge, Pa., by the American Bridge Co.; launched on 21 November 1943; sponsored by Mrs. Raymond Clapper; and commissioned on 31 December 1943,
Location: Severely damaged Slapton Sands on the Devon
Cause: German E-Boat attack
Commanded by Lt. Harry A. Mettler USNR

One of several assault rehearsals for D Day conducted at Slapton Sands on the Devon coast. So vital was the exercise that the commanders had ordered the use of live naval and artillery ammunition to make the exercise as real as possible to accustom the soldiers to what they were soon going to experience.

The exercise was conducted between 22nd and 30th April 1944 and commenced with the marshalling and embarking of the troops to the LST's (a landing ship tank is a flat bottomed four and a half thousand tons assault ship capable of carrying several hundred men, lorries and tanks) off the coast of south west England. The first assault landings were made on the morning of the 27th April, following the "bombardment" and was continued throughout the day. A follow up convoy of eight LST was expected later that night and it was this convoy which met with tragedy.

The convoy was moving at a speed of 5 knots in a single row, keeping a distance of about 400 yards and stayed in the order LST 515, 496, 511, 531, 58, 499,289 and 507.

On the night of 27th of April, few minutes after 10 pm a group of nine German E-Boats set out on a normal reconnaissance mission from their base in Cherbourg into the Lyme Bay area. They followed the usual channel route without any sign of a convoy or 'enemy' ships. As they headed towards the Lyme Bay area, they suddenly came in visual contact with the LST convoy. Since they could not see any naval escorts, they quickly positioned themselves for a torpedo attack.

As the convoy approached Lyme Bay it was manoeuvring a loop to head back towards the shore. It was here that the E-Boats made contact and opened fire. LST 531 was hit by two torpedoes shortly after LST 507 was hit. On board one of the LST's were a party code-named " Bigots ". They knew the full plan for D. Day. Later Landing craft tanks ( LCT's ) were employed with bow ramps down to scoop up bodies. The fear was that a " Bigot " had been captured and D. Day would have to be aborted.

Visit the virtual cemetery of the soldiers lost in Exercise Tiger " Click Here "
Entered the service from Texas.
USN World War II
Gunner's Mate, 2nd/ Cl. James W. Chandler MIA/KIA Operation Tiger, April 28, 1944
Hometown Denton, Texas
Wife, Mrs. Patsy Jane Chandler
Service ID: 3567487
Awards: Purple Heart

"Exercise Tiger"
Mission Date: 28-Apr-44
LST-289 was laid down on 14 September 1943 at Ambridge, Pa., by the American Bridge Co.; launched on 21 November 1943; sponsored by Mrs. Raymond Clapper; and commissioned on 31 December 1943,
Location: Severely damaged Slapton Sands on the Devon
Cause: German E-Boat attack
Commanded by Lt. Harry A. Mettler USNR

One of several assault rehearsals for D Day conducted at Slapton Sands on the Devon coast. So vital was the exercise that the commanders had ordered the use of live naval and artillery ammunition to make the exercise as real as possible to accustom the soldiers to what they were soon going to experience.

The exercise was conducted between 22nd and 30th April 1944 and commenced with the marshalling and embarking of the troops to the LST's (a landing ship tank is a flat bottomed four and a half thousand tons assault ship capable of carrying several hundred men, lorries and tanks) off the coast of south west England. The first assault landings were made on the morning of the 27th April, following the "bombardment" and was continued throughout the day. A follow up convoy of eight LST was expected later that night and it was this convoy which met with tragedy.

The convoy was moving at a speed of 5 knots in a single row, keeping a distance of about 400 yards and stayed in the order LST 515, 496, 511, 531, 58, 499,289 and 507.

On the night of 27th of April, few minutes after 10 pm a group of nine German E-Boats set out on a normal reconnaissance mission from their base in Cherbourg into the Lyme Bay area. They followed the usual channel route without any sign of a convoy or 'enemy' ships. As they headed towards the Lyme Bay area, they suddenly came in visual contact with the LST convoy. Since they could not see any naval escorts, they quickly positioned themselves for a torpedo attack.

As the convoy approached Lyme Bay it was manoeuvring a loop to head back towards the shore. It was here that the E-Boats made contact and opened fire. LST 531 was hit by two torpedoes shortly after LST 507 was hit. On board one of the LST's were a party code-named " Bigots ". They knew the full plan for D. Day. Later Landing craft tanks ( LCT's ) were employed with bow ramps down to scoop up bodies. The fear was that a " Bigot " had been captured and D. Day would have to be aborted.

Visit the virtual cemetery of the soldiers lost in Exercise Tiger " Click Here "


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  • Maintained by: John Dowdy
  • Originally Created by: War Graves
  • Added: Aug 6, 2010
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56288500/james_william-chandler: accessed ), memorial page for GM2C James William Chandler (15 Apr 1926–28 Apr 1944), Find a Grave Memorial ID 56288500, citing Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial, Coton, South Cambridgeshire District, Cambridgeshire, England; Maintained by John Dowdy (contributor 47791572).