James A. Lyerly
Service # 34467561
Rank: Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army Air Forces
Unit: 55th Squadron, 375th Troop Carrier Group
Entered Service From: North Carolina
Date of Death: 26 May 1945, lost between Florida Blanca Air Field, Luzon, Philippines and Peleliu, Palau Islands, Micronesia.
Status: Missing In Action. Plane and crew never found.
Memorialized: Tablets of the Missing – United States Army and Army Air Forces at the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines.
Awards: Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Son of David M. Lyerly & Sarah Elizabeth Burton.
1920 United States Federal Census (28 January 1920): High Point (Ward 4), Guilford County, North Carolina (sheet 6A, family 98) – James Lyerly (5/12 North Carolina).
1930 United States Federal Census (12 April 1930): High Point (Ward 4), Guilford County, North Carolina (sheet 31B, family 539, 1007 Granby) – James Arthur Lyerly (10 North Carolina).
1940 United States Federal Census (22 April 1940): High Point (Ward 4), Guilford County, North Carolina (sheet 10B, household 158, 507 Carter Street) – James A. Lyerly (20 North Carolina, truck driver, Dry Cleaning Plant). His family had lived in the same place in 1935. James had completed three years of high school.
James Arthur Lyerly (21, 13 August 1919, High Point, North Carolina) a resident of 746 Percy St., Greensboro, Guilford, North Carolina signed up for his WWII Draft Registration Card (Serial No. 4281, Order No. 990) on 16 October 1940 in Greensboro, Guilford, North Carolina. He was employed by Mr. Haley, superintendent of the Hosiery Division, Burlington Mills. James listed his mother, Sarah Elizabeth Lyerly, as the person who would always know his address. He was described as 5'10", 120 lbs., with a light complexion, blue eyes and blond hair.
Draft Board Drawings
Following are the drawings for selective military service mad in Washington today, showing the order number and serial number... The drawings follow: ... 4281 James Arthur Lyerly ... Source: The Greensboro Record (Greensboro, North Carolina), Tuesday, 29 October 1940, page 19.
Three Local Draft Boards Announce List Of Men For Induction
Groups to Be Sent to Ft. Bragg December 9, 10 and 14 From Here
Greenboro's three local draft boards have reported the names of large contingents of men who have been ordered to fill the December calls.
The groups will be sent to Ft. Bragg, ... the contingent from board No. 2 leaving December 14 ... The calls are expected to be filled almost exclusively with 18 and 19-year old youths ... LIST FROM BOARD NO. 2 ... James Arthur Lyerly ... Source: The Greensboro Daily News (Greensboro, North Carolina), Thursday, 03 December 1940, page 16.
James A. Lyerly (1919 North Carolina) of Guilford County, North Carolina enlisted as a Private (S/N 34467561) in the U.S. Army on 14 December 1942 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He was single and had been working in the "unskilled occupations in manufacture of knit goods."
He was sent to the South Pacific and assigned to the 55th Squadron of the 375th Troop Carrier Group, U.S. Army Air Forces.
OVERSEAS – Mrs. Sarah Lyerly, of 111 Cypress street, has been notified by the War Department that her son, Corp. James A. Lyerly of the Army Air Forces, has arrived safely overseas and is now stationed somewhere in the South Pacific. He entered service December 21, 1941. Source: The Greensboro Daily News (Greensboro, North Carolina), Wednesday, 08 September 1943, page 12.
The 55th Troop Carrier Squadron operated C-47 Dakota aircraft from 1942 to 1945, B-17 Flying Fortresses in 1944 and added C-46's from 1944 to 1946.
When James joined them the 55th was operating out of Dobodura, New Guinea. They have moved there on 19 August 1943. The 55th transported men, supplies and equipment to forward bases on New Guinea, New Britain, the Solomon and Admiralty Islands. They used armed B-17 Flying Fortresses for the more dangerous missions. This sometimes involved landing on airfields that were under enemy fire.
They took part in the first airborne operation in the Southwest Pacific, dropping paratroops to seize enemy bases and cut overland supply lines at Nadzab, New Guinea, on 05 September 1943.
• Port Moresby, New Guinea, 22 December 1943
• Nadzab, New Guinea, 22 April 1944
• Mokmer Field, Biak, Dutch New Guinea, 01 October 1944
The Squadron moved to the Philippines in February 1945, and during the next few months most of its missions were supply flights to ground forces on Luzon and neighboring islands.
• San Marcellino, Luzon, Philippines, 19 February 1945
• Porac (near Clark Field), Luzon, Philippines, 16 May 1945
AERIAL ENGINEER
SOMEWHERE IN SOUTHWEST PACIFIC. Cpl. James A. Lyerly, son of Mrs. D. M. Lyerly, 503 Park Ave, Greensboro, North Carolina, recently participated in the first troop carrier flight to the Philippine Islands. Corporal Lyerly is serving as an aerial engineer with a C-47 "Sky Train" troop carrier unit stationed in the Netherlands East Indies. He entered the army in December, 1942 at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina, and has served in this theater for 16 months with the troop carrier. Prior to entering the service, Corporal Lyerly was employed by the Bryant Electric Company in High Point. Source: The Greensboro Record (Greensboro, North Carolina), Tuesday, 20 March 1945, page 2.
Saturday, 26 May 1945 – S/Sgt. Lyerly, aerial engineer, was assigned to go on what was scheduled to be a routine flight – a cargo flight between Florida Blanca Air Field, Luzon, Philippines and Peleliu, Palau Islands. Their Curtiss C-46D-5-CU Commando (S/N 44-77336) took off at daybreak bound for Peleliu. It never arrived. "Extensive searches along the plane's presumed route failed to disclose any information." No trace of the aircraft or the crew was found. On February 1946, the crew was officially declared dead. Source: MACR 14675.
From the squadron history, May 1945: "Gloom was cast over the squadron with the required submittal of a report listing the first 55th casualties of this war – through the loss of a crew of five missing on an operational flight, 26 May, from Luzon to Peleliu." Source: http://www.awon.org/awradcli.html
1st Lt. William B. Pemberton pilot, S/N O-830908
2nd Lt. Edward Y. Ong copilot, S/N O-776388
2nd Lt. Thomas J. O'Brien navigator, S/N O-2078276
S/Sgt. James J. Lyerly engineer, S/N 34467561
Sgt. Ernest Radcliff, radio operator and mechanic, S/N 17125257
Former High Point Man Reported Dead
HIGH POINT, March 4. – Sgt. James A. Lyerly, who served as a chief engineer in the ground crew of the United States Army Air Forces, has been officially declared dead, relative here reported today.
The War Department received recently stated the 24-yer-old soldier lost his life on on Peleliu Island, May 26, 1945. He had served 22 months in the South Pacific.
Surviving are his mother, Mrs. Mrs. David M. Lyerly of Greensboro, and two sisters, Peggy Lyerly of Greensboro, and Mrs. Glen Hagie of High Point.
The young man resided in High Point most of his life, although his family moved to Greensboro six years ago. Source: Greensboro Daily News (Greensboro, North Carolina), Tuesday, 05 March 1946, page 3.
Memorial Service Scheduled Sunday For J. A. Lyerly
Memorial service for S/Sgt. James A Lyerly, 24, son of Mrs. Sara Lyerly, 503 Park Avenue, will be held at the First Baptist Church Sunday at 2:30 p. m. with the pastor Rev. Claude B. Bowen, officiating.
Lyerly, a crew chief with the 55th Troop Carrier Squadron, was reported missing on May 26, 1945, over Peleliu Island in the Pacific, and later was officially declared dead. He served in the South Pacific for 22 months.
During the service Lewis B. Cannon, former major in the United States Army Air Corps and personnel officer at ORD in Greensboro, will award posthumously the Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart, and the Air Medal. It was Cannon who notified Mrs. Lyerly that her son had been declared dead.
In addition to the mother, other survivors are two sisters, Miss Peggy Lyerly of the home, and Mrs. Glen Hagie of High Point. Source: Greensboro Record (Greensboro, North Carolina), Saturday, 20 November 1948, page 13.
Staff Sergeant James Arthur Lyerly is memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing - United States Army and Army Air Forces at the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines.
Service # 34467561
Rank: Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army Air Forces
Unit: 55th Squadron, 375th Troop Carrier Group
Entered Service From: North Carolina
Date of Death: 26 May 1945, lost between Florida Blanca Air Field, Luzon, Philippines and Peleliu, Palau Islands, Micronesia.
Status: Missing In Action. Plane and crew never found.
Memorialized: Tablets of the Missing – United States Army and Army Air Forces at the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines.
Awards: Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Son of David M. Lyerly & Sarah Elizabeth Burton.
1920 United States Federal Census (28 January 1920): High Point (Ward 4), Guilford County, North Carolina (sheet 6A, family 98) – James Lyerly (5/12 North Carolina).
1930 United States Federal Census (12 April 1930): High Point (Ward 4), Guilford County, North Carolina (sheet 31B, family 539, 1007 Granby) – James Arthur Lyerly (10 North Carolina).
1940 United States Federal Census (22 April 1940): High Point (Ward 4), Guilford County, North Carolina (sheet 10B, household 158, 507 Carter Street) – James A. Lyerly (20 North Carolina, truck driver, Dry Cleaning Plant). His family had lived in the same place in 1935. James had completed three years of high school.
James Arthur Lyerly (21, 13 August 1919, High Point, North Carolina) a resident of 746 Percy St., Greensboro, Guilford, North Carolina signed up for his WWII Draft Registration Card (Serial No. 4281, Order No. 990) on 16 October 1940 in Greensboro, Guilford, North Carolina. He was employed by Mr. Haley, superintendent of the Hosiery Division, Burlington Mills. James listed his mother, Sarah Elizabeth Lyerly, as the person who would always know his address. He was described as 5'10", 120 lbs., with a light complexion, blue eyes and blond hair.
Draft Board Drawings
Following are the drawings for selective military service mad in Washington today, showing the order number and serial number... The drawings follow: ... 4281 James Arthur Lyerly ... Source: The Greensboro Record (Greensboro, North Carolina), Tuesday, 29 October 1940, page 19.
Three Local Draft Boards Announce List Of Men For Induction
Groups to Be Sent to Ft. Bragg December 9, 10 and 14 From Here
Greenboro's three local draft boards have reported the names of large contingents of men who have been ordered to fill the December calls.
The groups will be sent to Ft. Bragg, ... the contingent from board No. 2 leaving December 14 ... The calls are expected to be filled almost exclusively with 18 and 19-year old youths ... LIST FROM BOARD NO. 2 ... James Arthur Lyerly ... Source: The Greensboro Daily News (Greensboro, North Carolina), Thursday, 03 December 1940, page 16.
James A. Lyerly (1919 North Carolina) of Guilford County, North Carolina enlisted as a Private (S/N 34467561) in the U.S. Army on 14 December 1942 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He was single and had been working in the "unskilled occupations in manufacture of knit goods."
He was sent to the South Pacific and assigned to the 55th Squadron of the 375th Troop Carrier Group, U.S. Army Air Forces.
OVERSEAS – Mrs. Sarah Lyerly, of 111 Cypress street, has been notified by the War Department that her son, Corp. James A. Lyerly of the Army Air Forces, has arrived safely overseas and is now stationed somewhere in the South Pacific. He entered service December 21, 1941. Source: The Greensboro Daily News (Greensboro, North Carolina), Wednesday, 08 September 1943, page 12.
The 55th Troop Carrier Squadron operated C-47 Dakota aircraft from 1942 to 1945, B-17 Flying Fortresses in 1944 and added C-46's from 1944 to 1946.
When James joined them the 55th was operating out of Dobodura, New Guinea. They have moved there on 19 August 1943. The 55th transported men, supplies and equipment to forward bases on New Guinea, New Britain, the Solomon and Admiralty Islands. They used armed B-17 Flying Fortresses for the more dangerous missions. This sometimes involved landing on airfields that were under enemy fire.
They took part in the first airborne operation in the Southwest Pacific, dropping paratroops to seize enemy bases and cut overland supply lines at Nadzab, New Guinea, on 05 September 1943.
• Port Moresby, New Guinea, 22 December 1943
• Nadzab, New Guinea, 22 April 1944
• Mokmer Field, Biak, Dutch New Guinea, 01 October 1944
The Squadron moved to the Philippines in February 1945, and during the next few months most of its missions were supply flights to ground forces on Luzon and neighboring islands.
• San Marcellino, Luzon, Philippines, 19 February 1945
• Porac (near Clark Field), Luzon, Philippines, 16 May 1945
AERIAL ENGINEER
SOMEWHERE IN SOUTHWEST PACIFIC. Cpl. James A. Lyerly, son of Mrs. D. M. Lyerly, 503 Park Ave, Greensboro, North Carolina, recently participated in the first troop carrier flight to the Philippine Islands. Corporal Lyerly is serving as an aerial engineer with a C-47 "Sky Train" troop carrier unit stationed in the Netherlands East Indies. He entered the army in December, 1942 at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina, and has served in this theater for 16 months with the troop carrier. Prior to entering the service, Corporal Lyerly was employed by the Bryant Electric Company in High Point. Source: The Greensboro Record (Greensboro, North Carolina), Tuesday, 20 March 1945, page 2.
Saturday, 26 May 1945 – S/Sgt. Lyerly, aerial engineer, was assigned to go on what was scheduled to be a routine flight – a cargo flight between Florida Blanca Air Field, Luzon, Philippines and Peleliu, Palau Islands. Their Curtiss C-46D-5-CU Commando (S/N 44-77336) took off at daybreak bound for Peleliu. It never arrived. "Extensive searches along the plane's presumed route failed to disclose any information." No trace of the aircraft or the crew was found. On February 1946, the crew was officially declared dead. Source: MACR 14675.
From the squadron history, May 1945: "Gloom was cast over the squadron with the required submittal of a report listing the first 55th casualties of this war – through the loss of a crew of five missing on an operational flight, 26 May, from Luzon to Peleliu." Source: http://www.awon.org/awradcli.html
1st Lt. William B. Pemberton pilot, S/N O-830908
2nd Lt. Edward Y. Ong copilot, S/N O-776388
2nd Lt. Thomas J. O'Brien navigator, S/N O-2078276
S/Sgt. James J. Lyerly engineer, S/N 34467561
Sgt. Ernest Radcliff, radio operator and mechanic, S/N 17125257
Former High Point Man Reported Dead
HIGH POINT, March 4. – Sgt. James A. Lyerly, who served as a chief engineer in the ground crew of the United States Army Air Forces, has been officially declared dead, relative here reported today.
The War Department received recently stated the 24-yer-old soldier lost his life on on Peleliu Island, May 26, 1945. He had served 22 months in the South Pacific.
Surviving are his mother, Mrs. Mrs. David M. Lyerly of Greensboro, and two sisters, Peggy Lyerly of Greensboro, and Mrs. Glen Hagie of High Point.
The young man resided in High Point most of his life, although his family moved to Greensboro six years ago. Source: Greensboro Daily News (Greensboro, North Carolina), Tuesday, 05 March 1946, page 3.
Memorial Service Scheduled Sunday For J. A. Lyerly
Memorial service for S/Sgt. James A Lyerly, 24, son of Mrs. Sara Lyerly, 503 Park Avenue, will be held at the First Baptist Church Sunday at 2:30 p. m. with the pastor Rev. Claude B. Bowen, officiating.
Lyerly, a crew chief with the 55th Troop Carrier Squadron, was reported missing on May 26, 1945, over Peleliu Island in the Pacific, and later was officially declared dead. He served in the South Pacific for 22 months.
During the service Lewis B. Cannon, former major in the United States Army Air Corps and personnel officer at ORD in Greensboro, will award posthumously the Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart, and the Air Medal. It was Cannon who notified Mrs. Lyerly that her son had been declared dead.
In addition to the mother, other survivors are two sisters, Miss Peggy Lyerly of the home, and Mrs. Glen Hagie of High Point. Source: Greensboro Record (Greensboro, North Carolina), Saturday, 20 November 1948, page 13.
Staff Sergeant James Arthur Lyerly is memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing - United States Army and Army Air Forces at the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines.
James A. Lyerly
Service # 34467561
Rank: Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army Air Forces
Unit: 55th Squadron, 375th Troop Carrier Group
Entered Service From: North Carolina
Date of Death: 26 May 1945, lost between Florida Blanca Air Field, Luzon, Philippines and Peleliu, Palau Islands, Micronesia.
Status: Missing In Action. Plane and crew never found.
Memorialized: Tablets of the Missing – United States Army and Army Air Forces at the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines.
Awards: Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Son of David M. Lyerly & Sarah Elizabeth Burton.
1920 United States Federal Census (28 January 1920): High Point (Ward 4), Guilford County, North Carolina (sheet 6A, family 98) – James Lyerly (5/12 North Carolina).
1930 United States Federal Census (12 April 1930): High Point (Ward 4), Guilford County, North Carolina (sheet 31B, family 539, 1007 Granby) – James Arthur Lyerly (10 North Carolina).
1940 United States Federal Census (22 April 1940): High Point (Ward 4), Guilford County, North Carolina (sheet 10B, household 158, 507 Carter Street) – James A. Lyerly (20 North Carolina, truck driver, Dry Cleaning Plant). His family had lived in the same place in 1935. James had completed three years of high school.
James Arthur Lyerly (21, 13 August 1919, High Point, North Carolina) a resident of 746 Percy St., Greensboro, Guilford, North Carolina signed up for his WWII Draft Registration Card (Serial No. 4281, Order No. 990) on 16 October 1940 in Greensboro, Guilford, North Carolina. He was employed by Mr. Haley, superintendent of the Hosiery Division, Burlington Mills. James listed his mother, Sarah Elizabeth Lyerly, as the person who would always know his address. He was described as 5'10", 120 lbs., with a light complexion, blue eyes and blond hair.
Draft Board Drawings
Following are the drawings for selective military service mad in Washington today, showing the order number and serial number... The drawings follow: ... 4281 James Arthur Lyerly ... Source: The Greensboro Record (Greensboro, North Carolina), Tuesday, 29 October 1940, page 19.
Three Local Draft Boards Announce List Of Men For Induction
Groups to Be Sent to Ft. Bragg December 9, 10 and 14 From Here
Greenboro's three local draft boards have reported the names of large contingents of men who have been ordered to fill the December calls.
The groups will be sent to Ft. Bragg, ... the contingent from board No. 2 leaving December 14 ... The calls are expected to be filled almost exclusively with 18 and 19-year old youths ... LIST FROM BOARD NO. 2 ... James Arthur Lyerly ... Source: The Greensboro Daily News (Greensboro, North Carolina), Thursday, 03 December 1940, page 16.
James A. Lyerly (1919 North Carolina) of Guilford County, North Carolina enlisted as a Private (S/N 34467561) in the U.S. Army on 14 December 1942 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He was single and had been working in the "unskilled occupations in manufacture of knit goods."
He was sent to the South Pacific and assigned to the 55th Squadron of the 375th Troop Carrier Group, U.S. Army Air Forces.
OVERSEAS – Mrs. Sarah Lyerly, of 111 Cypress street, has been notified by the War Department that her son, Corp. James A. Lyerly of the Army Air Forces, has arrived safely overseas and is now stationed somewhere in the South Pacific. He entered service December 21, 1941. Source: The Greensboro Daily News (Greensboro, North Carolina), Wednesday, 08 September 1943, page 12.
The 55th Troop Carrier Squadron operated C-47 Dakota aircraft from 1942 to 1945, B-17 Flying Fortresses in 1944 and added C-46's from 1944 to 1946.
When James joined them the 55th was operating out of Dobodura, New Guinea. They have moved there on 19 August 1943. The 55th transported men, supplies and equipment to forward bases on New Guinea, New Britain, the Solomon and Admiralty Islands. They used armed B-17 Flying Fortresses for the more dangerous missions. This sometimes involved landing on airfields that were under enemy fire.
They took part in the first airborne operation in the Southwest Pacific, dropping paratroops to seize enemy bases and cut overland supply lines at Nadzab, New Guinea, on 05 September 1943.
• Port Moresby, New Guinea, 22 December 1943
• Nadzab, New Guinea, 22 April 1944
• Mokmer Field, Biak, Dutch New Guinea, 01 October 1944
The Squadron moved to the Philippines in February 1945, and during the next few months most of its missions were supply flights to ground forces on Luzon and neighboring islands.
• San Marcellino, Luzon, Philippines, 19 February 1945
• Porac (near Clark Field), Luzon, Philippines, 16 May 1945
AERIAL ENGINEER
SOMEWHERE IN SOUTHWEST PACIFIC. Cpl. James A. Lyerly, son of Mrs. D. M. Lyerly, 503 Park Ave, Greensboro, North Carolina, recently participated in the first troop carrier flight to the Philippine Islands. Corporal Lyerly is serving as an aerial engineer with a C-47 "Sky Train" troop carrier unit stationed in the Netherlands East Indies. He entered the army in December, 1942 at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina, and has served in this theater for 16 months with the troop carrier. Prior to entering the service, Corporal Lyerly was employed by the Bryant Electric Company in High Point. Source: The Greensboro Record (Greensboro, North Carolina), Tuesday, 20 March 1945, page 2.
Saturday, 26 May 1945 – S/Sgt. Lyerly, aerial engineer, was assigned to go on what was scheduled to be a routine flight – a cargo flight between Florida Blanca Air Field, Luzon, Philippines and Peleliu, Palau Islands. Their Curtiss C-46D-5-CU Commando (S/N 44-77336) took off at daybreak bound for Peleliu. It never arrived. "Extensive searches along the plane's presumed route failed to disclose any information." No trace of the aircraft or the crew was found. On February 1946, the crew was officially declared dead. Source: MACR 14675.
From the squadron history, May 1945: "Gloom was cast over the squadron with the required submittal of a report listing the first 55th casualties of this war – through the loss of a crew of five missing on an operational flight, 26 May, from Luzon to Peleliu." Source: http://www.awon.org/awradcli.html
1st Lt. William B. Pemberton pilot, S/N O-830908
2nd Lt. Edward Y. Ong copilot, S/N O-776388
2nd Lt. Thomas J. O'Brien navigator, S/N O-2078276
S/Sgt. James J. Lyerly engineer, S/N 34467561
Sgt. Ernest Radcliff, radio operator and mechanic, S/N 17125257
Former High Point Man Reported Dead
HIGH POINT, March 4. – Sgt. James A. Lyerly, who served as a chief engineer in the ground crew of the United States Army Air Forces, has been officially declared dead, relative here reported today.
The War Department received recently stated the 24-yer-old soldier lost his life on on Peleliu Island, May 26, 1945. He had served 22 months in the South Pacific.
Surviving are his mother, Mrs. Mrs. David M. Lyerly of Greensboro, and two sisters, Peggy Lyerly of Greensboro, and Mrs. Glen Hagie of High Point.
The young man resided in High Point most of his life, although his family moved to Greensboro six years ago. Source: Greensboro Daily News (Greensboro, North Carolina), Tuesday, 05 March 1946, page 3.
Memorial Service Scheduled Sunday For J. A. Lyerly
Memorial service for S/Sgt. James A Lyerly, 24, son of Mrs. Sara Lyerly, 503 Park Avenue, will be held at the First Baptist Church Sunday at 2:30 p. m. with the pastor Rev. Claude B. Bowen, officiating.
Lyerly, a crew chief with the 55th Troop Carrier Squadron, was reported missing on May 26, 1945, over Peleliu Island in the Pacific, and later was officially declared dead. He served in the South Pacific for 22 months.
During the service Lewis B. Cannon, former major in the United States Army Air Corps and personnel officer at ORD in Greensboro, will award posthumously the Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart, and the Air Medal. It was Cannon who notified Mrs. Lyerly that her son had been declared dead.
In addition to the mother, other survivors are two sisters, Miss Peggy Lyerly of the home, and Mrs. Glen Hagie of High Point. Source: Greensboro Record (Greensboro, North Carolina), Saturday, 20 November 1948, page 13.
Staff Sergeant James Arthur Lyerly is memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing - United States Army and Army Air Forces at the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines.
Service # 34467561
Rank: Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army Air Forces
Unit: 55th Squadron, 375th Troop Carrier Group
Entered Service From: North Carolina
Date of Death: 26 May 1945, lost between Florida Blanca Air Field, Luzon, Philippines and Peleliu, Palau Islands, Micronesia.
Status: Missing In Action. Plane and crew never found.
Memorialized: Tablets of the Missing – United States Army and Army Air Forces at the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines.
Awards: Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Son of David M. Lyerly & Sarah Elizabeth Burton.
1920 United States Federal Census (28 January 1920): High Point (Ward 4), Guilford County, North Carolina (sheet 6A, family 98) – James Lyerly (5/12 North Carolina).
1930 United States Federal Census (12 April 1930): High Point (Ward 4), Guilford County, North Carolina (sheet 31B, family 539, 1007 Granby) – James Arthur Lyerly (10 North Carolina).
1940 United States Federal Census (22 April 1940): High Point (Ward 4), Guilford County, North Carolina (sheet 10B, household 158, 507 Carter Street) – James A. Lyerly (20 North Carolina, truck driver, Dry Cleaning Plant). His family had lived in the same place in 1935. James had completed three years of high school.
James Arthur Lyerly (21, 13 August 1919, High Point, North Carolina) a resident of 746 Percy St., Greensboro, Guilford, North Carolina signed up for his WWII Draft Registration Card (Serial No. 4281, Order No. 990) on 16 October 1940 in Greensboro, Guilford, North Carolina. He was employed by Mr. Haley, superintendent of the Hosiery Division, Burlington Mills. James listed his mother, Sarah Elizabeth Lyerly, as the person who would always know his address. He was described as 5'10", 120 lbs., with a light complexion, blue eyes and blond hair.
Draft Board Drawings
Following are the drawings for selective military service mad in Washington today, showing the order number and serial number... The drawings follow: ... 4281 James Arthur Lyerly ... Source: The Greensboro Record (Greensboro, North Carolina), Tuesday, 29 October 1940, page 19.
Three Local Draft Boards Announce List Of Men For Induction
Groups to Be Sent to Ft. Bragg December 9, 10 and 14 From Here
Greenboro's three local draft boards have reported the names of large contingents of men who have been ordered to fill the December calls.
The groups will be sent to Ft. Bragg, ... the contingent from board No. 2 leaving December 14 ... The calls are expected to be filled almost exclusively with 18 and 19-year old youths ... LIST FROM BOARD NO. 2 ... James Arthur Lyerly ... Source: The Greensboro Daily News (Greensboro, North Carolina), Thursday, 03 December 1940, page 16.
James A. Lyerly (1919 North Carolina) of Guilford County, North Carolina enlisted as a Private (S/N 34467561) in the U.S. Army on 14 December 1942 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He was single and had been working in the "unskilled occupations in manufacture of knit goods."
He was sent to the South Pacific and assigned to the 55th Squadron of the 375th Troop Carrier Group, U.S. Army Air Forces.
OVERSEAS – Mrs. Sarah Lyerly, of 111 Cypress street, has been notified by the War Department that her son, Corp. James A. Lyerly of the Army Air Forces, has arrived safely overseas and is now stationed somewhere in the South Pacific. He entered service December 21, 1941. Source: The Greensboro Daily News (Greensboro, North Carolina), Wednesday, 08 September 1943, page 12.
The 55th Troop Carrier Squadron operated C-47 Dakota aircraft from 1942 to 1945, B-17 Flying Fortresses in 1944 and added C-46's from 1944 to 1946.
When James joined them the 55th was operating out of Dobodura, New Guinea. They have moved there on 19 August 1943. The 55th transported men, supplies and equipment to forward bases on New Guinea, New Britain, the Solomon and Admiralty Islands. They used armed B-17 Flying Fortresses for the more dangerous missions. This sometimes involved landing on airfields that were under enemy fire.
They took part in the first airborne operation in the Southwest Pacific, dropping paratroops to seize enemy bases and cut overland supply lines at Nadzab, New Guinea, on 05 September 1943.
• Port Moresby, New Guinea, 22 December 1943
• Nadzab, New Guinea, 22 April 1944
• Mokmer Field, Biak, Dutch New Guinea, 01 October 1944
The Squadron moved to the Philippines in February 1945, and during the next few months most of its missions were supply flights to ground forces on Luzon and neighboring islands.
• San Marcellino, Luzon, Philippines, 19 February 1945
• Porac (near Clark Field), Luzon, Philippines, 16 May 1945
AERIAL ENGINEER
SOMEWHERE IN SOUTHWEST PACIFIC. Cpl. James A. Lyerly, son of Mrs. D. M. Lyerly, 503 Park Ave, Greensboro, North Carolina, recently participated in the first troop carrier flight to the Philippine Islands. Corporal Lyerly is serving as an aerial engineer with a C-47 "Sky Train" troop carrier unit stationed in the Netherlands East Indies. He entered the army in December, 1942 at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina, and has served in this theater for 16 months with the troop carrier. Prior to entering the service, Corporal Lyerly was employed by the Bryant Electric Company in High Point. Source: The Greensboro Record (Greensboro, North Carolina), Tuesday, 20 March 1945, page 2.
Saturday, 26 May 1945 – S/Sgt. Lyerly, aerial engineer, was assigned to go on what was scheduled to be a routine flight – a cargo flight between Florida Blanca Air Field, Luzon, Philippines and Peleliu, Palau Islands. Their Curtiss C-46D-5-CU Commando (S/N 44-77336) took off at daybreak bound for Peleliu. It never arrived. "Extensive searches along the plane's presumed route failed to disclose any information." No trace of the aircraft or the crew was found. On February 1946, the crew was officially declared dead. Source: MACR 14675.
From the squadron history, May 1945: "Gloom was cast over the squadron with the required submittal of a report listing the first 55th casualties of this war – through the loss of a crew of five missing on an operational flight, 26 May, from Luzon to Peleliu." Source: http://www.awon.org/awradcli.html
1st Lt. William B. Pemberton pilot, S/N O-830908
2nd Lt. Edward Y. Ong copilot, S/N O-776388
2nd Lt. Thomas J. O'Brien navigator, S/N O-2078276
S/Sgt. James J. Lyerly engineer, S/N 34467561
Sgt. Ernest Radcliff, radio operator and mechanic, S/N 17125257
Former High Point Man Reported Dead
HIGH POINT, March 4. – Sgt. James A. Lyerly, who served as a chief engineer in the ground crew of the United States Army Air Forces, has been officially declared dead, relative here reported today.
The War Department received recently stated the 24-yer-old soldier lost his life on on Peleliu Island, May 26, 1945. He had served 22 months in the South Pacific.
Surviving are his mother, Mrs. Mrs. David M. Lyerly of Greensboro, and two sisters, Peggy Lyerly of Greensboro, and Mrs. Glen Hagie of High Point.
The young man resided in High Point most of his life, although his family moved to Greensboro six years ago. Source: Greensboro Daily News (Greensboro, North Carolina), Tuesday, 05 March 1946, page 3.
Memorial Service Scheduled Sunday For J. A. Lyerly
Memorial service for S/Sgt. James A Lyerly, 24, son of Mrs. Sara Lyerly, 503 Park Avenue, will be held at the First Baptist Church Sunday at 2:30 p. m. with the pastor Rev. Claude B. Bowen, officiating.
Lyerly, a crew chief with the 55th Troop Carrier Squadron, was reported missing on May 26, 1945, over Peleliu Island in the Pacific, and later was officially declared dead. He served in the South Pacific for 22 months.
During the service Lewis B. Cannon, former major in the United States Army Air Corps and personnel officer at ORD in Greensboro, will award posthumously the Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart, and the Air Medal. It was Cannon who notified Mrs. Lyerly that her son had been declared dead.
In addition to the mother, other survivors are two sisters, Miss Peggy Lyerly of the home, and Mrs. Glen Hagie of High Point. Source: Greensboro Record (Greensboro, North Carolina), Saturday, 20 November 1948, page 13.
Staff Sergeant James Arthur Lyerly is memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing - United States Army and Army Air Forces at the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines.
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from North Carolina
Family Members
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