James served as a Captain & Co-Pilot on B-17G "Shadie Sadie" #43-38639, 548th Bomber Squadron, 385th Bomber Group, Heavy, U.S. Army Air Forces

He resided in the District Of Columbia prior to the war.

He enlisted in the Army Air Corps on July 11, 1941, prior to the war, in Washington, D.C. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being employed as a Actor and also as Single, without dependents.

B-17G #43-38639 took off from Station 155 in England on a bombing mission to Kiel, Germany.

After completion of the mission and while returning to Station 155 B-17G #43-38210 collided into them and both B-17's crashed into the North Sea during the war.

It is believed that B-17G #43-38210 had suffered battle damage which caused the pilot, 1st Lt. Ritchie, to lose control of his B-17.

James was declared "Missing In Action" in this crash.

He was awarded the Air Medal and the Purple Heart.

All nine airmen on his B-17 were declared "Missing".

Service # O-437249

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Airmen who perished on B-17G #43-38639:

Abernathy, Mercer G ~ 2nd Lt, Navigator, TX
Bartlett, Robert E ~ T/Sgt, Top Turret Gunner, PA
Cook, Charles J ~ Sgt, Ball Turret Gunner, CA
Crimmins, Timothy E J ~ Capt, Pilot, GA
Dawidowicz, Milton ~ S/Sgt, Tail Gunner, MD
Dodd, James E ~ 1st Lt, Bombardier, FL
Fitz Gerald, Robert D ~ T/Sgt, Radio Operator, MI
Murphy, James E ~ Capt, Co-Pilot, D.C.
Rapps, Oliver J ~ S/Sgt, Right Waist Gunner, IA

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

For airmen who perished on B-17G #43-38210 see:

Ritchie, Robert G ~ 1st Lt, Pilot, Washington

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Bio & Crew Reports by:
Russell S. "Russ" Pickett

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James served as a Captain & Co-Pilot on B-17G "Shadie Sadie" #43-38639, 548th Bomber Squadron, 385th Bomber Group, Heavy, U.S. Army Air Forces

He resided in the District Of Columbia prior to the war.

He enlisted in the Army Air Corps on July 11, 1941, prior to the war, in Washington, D.C. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being employed as a Actor and also as Single, without dependents.

B-17G #43-38639 took off from Station 155 in England on a bombing mission to Kiel, Germany.

After completion of the mission and while returning to Station 155 B-17G #43-38210 collided into them and both B-17's crashed into the North Sea during the war.

It is believed that B-17G #43-38210 had suffered battle damage which caused the pilot, 1st Lt. Ritchie, to lose control of his B-17.

James was declared "Missing In Action" in this crash.

He was awarded the Air Medal and the Purple Heart.

All nine airmen on his B-17 were declared "Missing".

Service # O-437249

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Airmen who perished on B-17G #43-38639:

Abernathy, Mercer G ~ 2nd Lt, Navigator, TX
Bartlett, Robert E ~ T/Sgt, Top Turret Gunner, PA
Cook, Charles J ~ Sgt, Ball Turret Gunner, CA
Crimmins, Timothy E J ~ Capt, Pilot, GA
Dawidowicz, Milton ~ S/Sgt, Tail Gunner, MD
Dodd, James E ~ 1st Lt, Bombardier, FL
Fitz Gerald, Robert D ~ T/Sgt, Radio Operator, MI
Murphy, James E ~ Capt, Co-Pilot, D.C.
Rapps, Oliver J ~ S/Sgt, Right Waist Gunner, IA

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

For airmen who perished on B-17G #43-38210 see:

Ritchie, Robert G ~ 1st Lt, Pilot, Washington

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Bio & Crew Reports by:
Russell S. "Russ" Pickett

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