2nd Lt. James A. Harper served in the US Army during WWII as a pilot, from 24 May 1943 till 26 November 1943 when he was KIA. His remains were returned to the US for burial 13 June 1949.
Co-Pilot 2nd/Lt. James A. Harper KIA
Hometown: Ellwood City, PA.
Squadron: 66th BS 44th Bomb Group
Service # O-681402
Awards: Purple Heart
Pilot 1st/Lt. Alexander Trolese KIA California
Target: Bremen
Missing Air Crew Report Details
USAAF MACR#:
Date Lost: 26-Nov-43
Serial Number: 41-24234
Aircraft Model B-24D
Aircraft Letter:
Aircraft Name: Mr. 5 X 5,
Location: Germany
Cause: mid air collision 10 KIA
Their plane, Mr. 5 X 5, a B-24-Liberator, had been on a bombing run over Germany and were on their way back to England when the plane was caught up in the prop wash of other planes ahead and forced into a collision with #501. The propellers of #501 were cut and sheared off the entire tail section of Mr. 5 X 5, causing it to crash, apparently into the sea. The plane had shrapnel damage from the bombing raid. Members of the crew of the plane in whose prop wash Mr. 5 X 5 was caught observed 6 parachutes coming out of Mr. 5 X 5. However, all members of the crew were Killed in Action that day. All bodies were recovered. Lt. James G. Cary and crew from the 68th Squadron escaped from the collision and returned to base, but only after succeeding in recovering from their spin at an altitude of only 4,000 feet.
B24 41-24232 with a different crew was veteran of "Operation Tidal Wave" the low level mission to destroy Romanian oil fields.
Co-Pilot 2nd/Lt. James A. Harper KIA
Hometown: Ellwood City, PA.
Squadron: 66th BS 44th Bomb Group
Service # O-681402
Awards: Purple Heart
Pilot 1st/Lt. Alexander Trolese KIA California
Target: Bremen
Missing Air Crew Report Details
USAAF MACR#:
Date Lost: 26-Nov-43
Serial Number: 41-24234
Aircraft Model B-24D
Aircraft Letter:
Aircraft Name: Mr. 5 X 5,
Location: Germany
Cause: mid air collision 10 KIA
Their plane, Mr. 5 X 5, a B-24-Liberator, had been on a bombing run over Germany and were on their way back to England when the plane was caught up in the prop wash of other planes ahead and forced into a collision with #501. The propellers of #501 were cut and sheared off the entire tail section of Mr. 5 X 5, causing it to crash, apparently into the sea. The plane had shrapnel damage from the bombing raid. Members of the crew of the plane in whose prop wash Mr. 5 X 5 was caught observed 6 parachutes coming out of Mr. 5 X 5. However, all members of the crew were Killed in Action that day. All bodies were recovered. Lt. James G. Cary and crew from the 68th Squadron escaped from the collision and returned to base, but only after succeeding in recovering from their spin at an altitude of only 4,000 feet.
B24 41-24232 with a different crew was veteran of "Operation Tidal Wave" the low level mission to destroy Romanian oil fields.
2nd Lt. James A. Harper served in the US Army during WWII as a pilot, from 24 May 1943 till 26 November 1943 when he was KIA. His remains were returned to the US for burial 13 June 1949.
Co-Pilot 2nd/Lt. James A. Harper KIA
Hometown: Ellwood City, PA.
Squadron: 66th BS 44th Bomb Group
Service # O-681402
Awards: Purple Heart
Pilot 1st/Lt. Alexander Trolese KIA California
Target: Bremen
Missing Air Crew Report Details
USAAF MACR#:
Date Lost: 26-Nov-43
Serial Number: 41-24234
Aircraft Model B-24D
Aircraft Letter:
Aircraft Name: Mr. 5 X 5,
Location: Germany
Cause: mid air collision 10 KIA
Their plane, Mr. 5 X 5, a B-24-Liberator, had been on a bombing run over Germany and were on their way back to England when the plane was caught up in the prop wash of other planes ahead and forced into a collision with #501. The propellers of #501 were cut and sheared off the entire tail section of Mr. 5 X 5, causing it to crash, apparently into the sea. The plane had shrapnel damage from the bombing raid. Members of the crew of the plane in whose prop wash Mr. 5 X 5 was caught observed 6 parachutes coming out of Mr. 5 X 5. However, all members of the crew were Killed in Action that day. All bodies were recovered. Lt. James G. Cary and crew from the 68th Squadron escaped from the collision and returned to base, but only after succeeding in recovering from their spin at an altitude of only 4,000 feet.
B24 41-24232 with a different crew was veteran of "Operation Tidal Wave" the low level mission to destroy Romanian oil fields.
Co-Pilot 2nd/Lt. James A. Harper KIA
Hometown: Ellwood City, PA.
Squadron: 66th BS 44th Bomb Group
Service # O-681402
Awards: Purple Heart
Pilot 1st/Lt. Alexander Trolese KIA California
Target: Bremen
Missing Air Crew Report Details
USAAF MACR#:
Date Lost: 26-Nov-43
Serial Number: 41-24234
Aircraft Model B-24D
Aircraft Letter:
Aircraft Name: Mr. 5 X 5,
Location: Germany
Cause: mid air collision 10 KIA
Their plane, Mr. 5 X 5, a B-24-Liberator, had been on a bombing run over Germany and were on their way back to England when the plane was caught up in the prop wash of other planes ahead and forced into a collision with #501. The propellers of #501 were cut and sheared off the entire tail section of Mr. 5 X 5, causing it to crash, apparently into the sea. The plane had shrapnel damage from the bombing raid. Members of the crew of the plane in whose prop wash Mr. 5 X 5 was caught observed 6 parachutes coming out of Mr. 5 X 5. However, all members of the crew were Killed in Action that day. All bodies were recovered. Lt. James G. Cary and crew from the 68th Squadron escaped from the collision and returned to base, but only after succeeding in recovering from their spin at an altitude of only 4,000 feet.
B24 41-24232 with a different crew was veteran of "Operation Tidal Wave" the low level mission to destroy Romanian oil fields.
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