James was a Private in the U.S. Army 8th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division.
Service # 33360642
He entered the Service from Virginia
Awards: Purple Heart
James Edward William Ayers was 20 December 1911 in Tuckahoe, Henrico, Virginia. He was the son of James T. Ayers (1877-1924) and Jessie Loyall (1893-1927). He had one younger brother named Frank.
The 1920 Census shows James living with his parents as well as two of his mother's brothers (Littleberry and Alfred). Both parents along with one of the brothers are working outside the home. In 1924, James' father dies. Not too long after in 1927, his mother dies. The 1930 census shows James living with one of his maternal uncles, Littleberry Loyall, in Richmond.
On James' draft registration card it shows that he only completed school through the 6th grade. This would have been about the same time that his father died, so times must have been very hard for the family.
1940 finds James working at the Albemarle Paper Company in Richmond. James married Mildred Lucille Cobb (1915-2001) on 20 December 1941 in Henrico, Virginia.
On 24 April 1942, James entered the Army. He was assigned to the 8th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division. The 8th participated in the Carolina Maneuvers during the summer of 1942, as well as maneuvers in Florida in September 1943. They were sent to Fort Jackson, South Carolina where they prepared to be sent overseas. They left New York on 18 January 1944 and arrived on 29 January 1944 in Liverpool, England.
For the next few months, the 8th prepared for the invasion of France in the area of Devon. On 6 June 1944, the 8th Infantry Regiment went ashore at Utah Beach and was the first ground unit to engage German forces. Their mission was to link up with 82nd and 101st Airborne troops that had been dropped in earlier. For their actions on D-Day, the 8th was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation.
After moving from the beaches, the 8th continued towards the Cotentin Peninsula to cut off the German Army. On 19 June 1945, the same day as the 8th began its final push to Cherbourg, James was wounded. At this time, no further information has been found about James' injury but he was soon evacuated to England.
On 27 July 1944, two C-47A Skytrain Aircraft left Bristol, England en route to Prestwick, Scotland. The planes carried wounded from the invasion of France. Plane #42-93038 was piloted by Lt. Galen R. Hendricks, who along with his crew, was part of 441st Troop Carrier Group, 301st Troop Squadron. Their job was to transport the wounded to Scotland and from there the wounded would be flown back to the United States.
Lt. Hendricks was joined by Lt. Raymond Hutchings, Lt. Leon Tully, Sgt Merl Skinner, Sgt Jay Alcorn and Flight Officer Dan Meshew. 2nd Lt. Mary Jackley and T/3 John Salmi were in the Medical Corps and also part of the crew.
The wounded on the flight included Lt John Ingram, Lt Theron Ward, Sgt Ernest Corvin, Sgt Billy Morris and Cpl Elmer Lauf. Also among the wounded were Pfc James Green, Pfc Keith Lowdermilk, Pfc Marcus Saposhnikoff, Pvt James Ayers, Pvt Jack Sheidler, Pvt Edmund Davis and Pvt Donald Hammerstrom.
Major Irving I. Shure was also on the flight. Some information found states he was the "Attending Physician" on board while other information states he was just catching a ride to Scotland.
There was also a member of the RAF named Samuel Gilmour onboard.
The two C-47's flew from Bristol up the western coast of England. They were flying at low altitude because of fog. Lt. Hendricks was the lead plane. He radioed the other plane that he was going change course and climb higher. The pilot of the other plane agreed. Moments later the pilot of the second plane while trying to force his plane to climb, saw grass and realized he was very near the ground. He radioed Lt. Hendricks but received no reply. He circled around and saw smoke through the fog.
Plane #42-93038 had crashed into the rugged sea cliffs near Portpatrick, Scotland. The wreckage was scattered along the cliffs. Rescuers from the nearby village came to see what they could do. All but one person, Merl Skinner, had been killed immediately. Skinner passed away shortly after being found by the rescuers.
The crew and passengers were initially buried in the Cambridge American Cemetery in England. James is still buried there.
Service # 33360642
He entered the Service from Virginia
Awards: Purple Heart
James Edward William Ayers was 20 December 1911 in Tuckahoe, Henrico, Virginia. He was the son of James T. Ayers (1877-1924) and Jessie Loyall (1893-1927). He had one younger brother named Frank.
The 1920 Census shows James living with his parents as well as two of his mother's brothers (Littleberry and Alfred). Both parents along with one of the brothers are working outside the home. In 1924, James' father dies. Not too long after in 1927, his mother dies. The 1930 census shows James living with one of his maternal uncles, Littleberry Loyall, in Richmond.
On James' draft registration card it shows that he only completed school through the 6th grade. This would have been about the same time that his father died, so times must have been very hard for the family.
1940 finds James working at the Albemarle Paper Company in Richmond. James married Mildred Lucille Cobb (1915-2001) on 20 December 1941 in Henrico, Virginia.
On 24 April 1942, James entered the Army. He was assigned to the 8th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division. The 8th participated in the Carolina Maneuvers during the summer of 1942, as well as maneuvers in Florida in September 1943. They were sent to Fort Jackson, South Carolina where they prepared to be sent overseas. They left New York on 18 January 1944 and arrived on 29 January 1944 in Liverpool, England.
For the next few months, the 8th prepared for the invasion of France in the area of Devon. On 6 June 1944, the 8th Infantry Regiment went ashore at Utah Beach and was the first ground unit to engage German forces. Their mission was to link up with 82nd and 101st Airborne troops that had been dropped in earlier. For their actions on D-Day, the 8th was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation.
After moving from the beaches, the 8th continued towards the Cotentin Peninsula to cut off the German Army. On 19 June 1945, the same day as the 8th began its final push to Cherbourg, James was wounded. At this time, no further information has been found about James' injury but he was soon evacuated to England.
On 27 July 1944, two C-47A Skytrain Aircraft left Bristol, England en route to Prestwick, Scotland. The planes carried wounded from the invasion of France. Plane #42-93038 was piloted by Lt. Galen R. Hendricks, who along with his crew, was part of 441st Troop Carrier Group, 301st Troop Squadron. Their job was to transport the wounded to Scotland and from there the wounded would be flown back to the United States.
Lt. Hendricks was joined by Lt. Raymond Hutchings, Lt. Leon Tully, Sgt Merl Skinner, Sgt Jay Alcorn and Flight Officer Dan Meshew. 2nd Lt. Mary Jackley and T/3 John Salmi were in the Medical Corps and also part of the crew.
The wounded on the flight included Lt John Ingram, Lt Theron Ward, Sgt Ernest Corvin, Sgt Billy Morris and Cpl Elmer Lauf. Also among the wounded were Pfc James Green, Pfc Keith Lowdermilk, Pfc Marcus Saposhnikoff, Pvt James Ayers, Pvt Jack Sheidler, Pvt Edmund Davis and Pvt Donald Hammerstrom.
Major Irving I. Shure was also on the flight. Some information found states he was the "Attending Physician" on board while other information states he was just catching a ride to Scotland.
There was also a member of the RAF named Samuel Gilmour onboard.
The two C-47's flew from Bristol up the western coast of England. They were flying at low altitude because of fog. Lt. Hendricks was the lead plane. He radioed the other plane that he was going change course and climb higher. The pilot of the other plane agreed. Moments later the pilot of the second plane while trying to force his plane to climb, saw grass and realized he was very near the ground. He radioed Lt. Hendricks but received no reply. He circled around and saw smoke through the fog.
Plane #42-93038 had crashed into the rugged sea cliffs near Portpatrick, Scotland. The wreckage was scattered along the cliffs. Rescuers from the nearby village came to see what they could do. All but one person, Merl Skinner, had been killed immediately. Skinner passed away shortly after being found by the rescuers.
The crew and passengers were initially buried in the Cambridge American Cemetery in England. James is still buried there.
James was a Private in the U.S. Army 8th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division.
Service # 33360642
He entered the Service from Virginia
Awards: Purple Heart
James Edward William Ayers was 20 December 1911 in Tuckahoe, Henrico, Virginia. He was the son of James T. Ayers (1877-1924) and Jessie Loyall (1893-1927). He had one younger brother named Frank.
The 1920 Census shows James living with his parents as well as two of his mother's brothers (Littleberry and Alfred). Both parents along with one of the brothers are working outside the home. In 1924, James' father dies. Not too long after in 1927, his mother dies. The 1930 census shows James living with one of his maternal uncles, Littleberry Loyall, in Richmond.
On James' draft registration card it shows that he only completed school through the 6th grade. This would have been about the same time that his father died, so times must have been very hard for the family.
1940 finds James working at the Albemarle Paper Company in Richmond. James married Mildred Lucille Cobb (1915-2001) on 20 December 1941 in Henrico, Virginia.
On 24 April 1942, James entered the Army. He was assigned to the 8th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division. The 8th participated in the Carolina Maneuvers during the summer of 1942, as well as maneuvers in Florida in September 1943. They were sent to Fort Jackson, South Carolina where they prepared to be sent overseas. They left New York on 18 January 1944 and arrived on 29 January 1944 in Liverpool, England.
For the next few months, the 8th prepared for the invasion of France in the area of Devon. On 6 June 1944, the 8th Infantry Regiment went ashore at Utah Beach and was the first ground unit to engage German forces. Their mission was to link up with 82nd and 101st Airborne troops that had been dropped in earlier. For their actions on D-Day, the 8th was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation.
After moving from the beaches, the 8th continued towards the Cotentin Peninsula to cut off the German Army. On 19 June 1945, the same day as the 8th began its final push to Cherbourg, James was wounded. At this time, no further information has been found about James' injury but he was soon evacuated to England.
On 27 July 1944, two C-47A Skytrain Aircraft left Bristol, England en route to Prestwick, Scotland. The planes carried wounded from the invasion of France. Plane #42-93038 was piloted by Lt. Galen R. Hendricks, who along with his crew, was part of 441st Troop Carrier Group, 301st Troop Squadron. Their job was to transport the wounded to Scotland and from there the wounded would be flown back to the United States.
Lt. Hendricks was joined by Lt. Raymond Hutchings, Lt. Leon Tully, Sgt Merl Skinner, Sgt Jay Alcorn and Flight Officer Dan Meshew. 2nd Lt. Mary Jackley and T/3 John Salmi were in the Medical Corps and also part of the crew.
The wounded on the flight included Lt John Ingram, Lt Theron Ward, Sgt Ernest Corvin, Sgt Billy Morris and Cpl Elmer Lauf. Also among the wounded were Pfc James Green, Pfc Keith Lowdermilk, Pfc Marcus Saposhnikoff, Pvt James Ayers, Pvt Jack Sheidler, Pvt Edmund Davis and Pvt Donald Hammerstrom.
Major Irving I. Shure was also on the flight. Some information found states he was the "Attending Physician" on board while other information states he was just catching a ride to Scotland.
There was also a member of the RAF named Samuel Gilmour onboard.
The two C-47's flew from Bristol up the western coast of England. They were flying at low altitude because of fog. Lt. Hendricks was the lead plane. He radioed the other plane that he was going change course and climb higher. The pilot of the other plane agreed. Moments later the pilot of the second plane while trying to force his plane to climb, saw grass and realized he was very near the ground. He radioed Lt. Hendricks but received no reply. He circled around and saw smoke through the fog.
Plane #42-93038 had crashed into the rugged sea cliffs near Portpatrick, Scotland. The wreckage was scattered along the cliffs. Rescuers from the nearby village came to see what they could do. All but one person, Merl Skinner, had been killed immediately. Skinner passed away shortly after being found by the rescuers.
The crew and passengers were initially buried in the Cambridge American Cemetery in England. James is still buried there.
Service # 33360642
He entered the Service from Virginia
Awards: Purple Heart
James Edward William Ayers was 20 December 1911 in Tuckahoe, Henrico, Virginia. He was the son of James T. Ayers (1877-1924) and Jessie Loyall (1893-1927). He had one younger brother named Frank.
The 1920 Census shows James living with his parents as well as two of his mother's brothers (Littleberry and Alfred). Both parents along with one of the brothers are working outside the home. In 1924, James' father dies. Not too long after in 1927, his mother dies. The 1930 census shows James living with one of his maternal uncles, Littleberry Loyall, in Richmond.
On James' draft registration card it shows that he only completed school through the 6th grade. This would have been about the same time that his father died, so times must have been very hard for the family.
1940 finds James working at the Albemarle Paper Company in Richmond. James married Mildred Lucille Cobb (1915-2001) on 20 December 1941 in Henrico, Virginia.
On 24 April 1942, James entered the Army. He was assigned to the 8th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division. The 8th participated in the Carolina Maneuvers during the summer of 1942, as well as maneuvers in Florida in September 1943. They were sent to Fort Jackson, South Carolina where they prepared to be sent overseas. They left New York on 18 January 1944 and arrived on 29 January 1944 in Liverpool, England.
For the next few months, the 8th prepared for the invasion of France in the area of Devon. On 6 June 1944, the 8th Infantry Regiment went ashore at Utah Beach and was the first ground unit to engage German forces. Their mission was to link up with 82nd and 101st Airborne troops that had been dropped in earlier. For their actions on D-Day, the 8th was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation.
After moving from the beaches, the 8th continued towards the Cotentin Peninsula to cut off the German Army. On 19 June 1945, the same day as the 8th began its final push to Cherbourg, James was wounded. At this time, no further information has been found about James' injury but he was soon evacuated to England.
On 27 July 1944, two C-47A Skytrain Aircraft left Bristol, England en route to Prestwick, Scotland. The planes carried wounded from the invasion of France. Plane #42-93038 was piloted by Lt. Galen R. Hendricks, who along with his crew, was part of 441st Troop Carrier Group, 301st Troop Squadron. Their job was to transport the wounded to Scotland and from there the wounded would be flown back to the United States.
Lt. Hendricks was joined by Lt. Raymond Hutchings, Lt. Leon Tully, Sgt Merl Skinner, Sgt Jay Alcorn and Flight Officer Dan Meshew. 2nd Lt. Mary Jackley and T/3 John Salmi were in the Medical Corps and also part of the crew.
The wounded on the flight included Lt John Ingram, Lt Theron Ward, Sgt Ernest Corvin, Sgt Billy Morris and Cpl Elmer Lauf. Also among the wounded were Pfc James Green, Pfc Keith Lowdermilk, Pfc Marcus Saposhnikoff, Pvt James Ayers, Pvt Jack Sheidler, Pvt Edmund Davis and Pvt Donald Hammerstrom.
Major Irving I. Shure was also on the flight. Some information found states he was the "Attending Physician" on board while other information states he was just catching a ride to Scotland.
There was also a member of the RAF named Samuel Gilmour onboard.
The two C-47's flew from Bristol up the western coast of England. They were flying at low altitude because of fog. Lt. Hendricks was the lead plane. He radioed the other plane that he was going change course and climb higher. The pilot of the other plane agreed. Moments later the pilot of the second plane while trying to force his plane to climb, saw grass and realized he was very near the ground. He radioed Lt. Hendricks but received no reply. He circled around and saw smoke through the fog.
Plane #42-93038 had crashed into the rugged sea cliffs near Portpatrick, Scotland. The wreckage was scattered along the cliffs. Rescuers from the nearby village came to see what they could do. All but one person, Merl Skinner, had been killed immediately. Skinner passed away shortly after being found by the rescuers.
The crew and passengers were initially buried in the Cambridge American Cemetery in England. James is still buried there.
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