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Sgt James Andrew Hilley

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Sgt James Andrew Hilley Veteran

Birth
Nixonton, Pasquotank County, North Carolina, USA
Death
15 Feb 1943 (aged 23)
France
Burial
Neuville-en-Condroz, Arrondissement de Liège, Liège, Belgium Add to Map
Plot
Plot C Row 31 Grave 4
Memorial ID
View Source
Gunner Sgt. James A. Hilley KIA
Hometown: North Carolina
Squadron: 578th 44th Bomb Group
Service# 34117846
Awards: Purple Heart
Captain Arthur V. Cullen Pilot POW

Target: German Raider Togo, Dunkirk, France
Mission Date: 15-Feb-43
Serial Number: # 41-23783
Aircraft Model # B-24D-5-CO
Aircraft Letter:
Aircraft Name:
Location: Dunkirk
Cause: Flak
CREW of 11 5KIA 2 MIA/KIA 4POW

The target for this hurried afternoon mission was a German Raider thought to be the Togo, which was found on the morning reconnaissance flight. It was thought that the ship was ready to slip out at any time to raid Allied shipping. Crews were hurriedly called and briefed, with 17 planes of the 44th BG soon airborne. They rendezvoused with aircraft of the 329th Squadron, 93rd BG, and were led by the 67th Squadron's Captain Cullen and the C.O. of the 67th Squadron, Major Donald W. MacDonald, as the formation's Command Pilot. Two aircraft were lost. A third crash-landed on the beach south of Ramsgate.

According to Captain Cullen who survived and became a POW. The ship took a direct hit from 88 mm flak under the flight deck at about the nose wheel section. Major Mac had a serious stomach wound, he unstrapped his belt and with lots of effort on his part (it must have been agony for him) and a little pushing on my part, he went through the roof – or rather where the roof used to be. He got down all right but he died on the operating table of a German Luftwaffe hospital in France.
Sgt. Emery and Mckinsey's remains were never recovered or identified.

Captain Cullen Crew
Donald W. MacDonald Command Pilot KIA
Captain Arthur V. Cullen Pilot POW
1st/Lt. John L. Mackey Navigator KIA
2nd/Lt. Paul D. Caldwell Bombardier KIA
T/Sgt. Albert W. Emery Engineer MIA/KIA
T/Sgt. Albert W. Emery Engineer MIA/KIA
T/Sgt. Samuel S. Weiser Radio Op. KIA
T/Sgt. David H. Woo Gunner POW
S/Sgt. Thomas E. Mckinsey Gunner MIA/KIA
Sgt. James A. Hilley Gunner KIA
Sgt. Charles A. Arnold Gunner POW
Sgt. Jesse M. Norwood Gunner POW
Gunner Sgt. James A. Hilley KIA
Hometown: North Carolina
Squadron: 578th 44th Bomb Group
Service# 34117846
Awards: Purple Heart
Captain Arthur V. Cullen Pilot POW

Target: German Raider Togo, Dunkirk, France
Mission Date: 15-Feb-43
Serial Number: # 41-23783
Aircraft Model # B-24D-5-CO
Aircraft Letter:
Aircraft Name:
Location: Dunkirk
Cause: Flak
CREW of 11 5KIA 2 MIA/KIA 4POW

The target for this hurried afternoon mission was a German Raider thought to be the Togo, which was found on the morning reconnaissance flight. It was thought that the ship was ready to slip out at any time to raid Allied shipping. Crews were hurriedly called and briefed, with 17 planes of the 44th BG soon airborne. They rendezvoused with aircraft of the 329th Squadron, 93rd BG, and were led by the 67th Squadron's Captain Cullen and the C.O. of the 67th Squadron, Major Donald W. MacDonald, as the formation's Command Pilot. Two aircraft were lost. A third crash-landed on the beach south of Ramsgate.

According to Captain Cullen who survived and became a POW. The ship took a direct hit from 88 mm flak under the flight deck at about the nose wheel section. Major Mac had a serious stomach wound, he unstrapped his belt and with lots of effort on his part (it must have been agony for him) and a little pushing on my part, he went through the roof – or rather where the roof used to be. He got down all right but he died on the operating table of a German Luftwaffe hospital in France.
Sgt. Emery and Mckinsey's remains were never recovered or identified.

Captain Cullen Crew
Donald W. MacDonald Command Pilot KIA
Captain Arthur V. Cullen Pilot POW
1st/Lt. John L. Mackey Navigator KIA
2nd/Lt. Paul D. Caldwell Bombardier KIA
T/Sgt. Albert W. Emery Engineer MIA/KIA
T/Sgt. Albert W. Emery Engineer MIA/KIA
T/Sgt. Samuel S. Weiser Radio Op. KIA
T/Sgt. David H. Woo Gunner POW
S/Sgt. Thomas E. Mckinsey Gunner MIA/KIA
Sgt. James A. Hilley Gunner KIA
Sgt. Charles A. Arnold Gunner POW
Sgt. Jesse M. Norwood Gunner POW

Gravesite Details

Entered the service from North Carolina.




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  • Maintained by: John Dowdy
  • Originally Created by: War Graves
  • Added: Aug 7, 2010
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56358763/james_andrew-hilley: accessed ), memorial page for Sgt James Andrew Hilley (27 Apr 1919–15 Feb 1943), Find a Grave Memorial ID 56358763, citing Ardennes American Cemetery and Memorial, Neuville-en-Condroz, Arrondissement de Liège, Liège, Belgium; Maintained by John Dowdy (contributor 47791572).