James was working at Boeing Aircraft Wichita when he was drafted. After training in gunnery and navigation he crewed up and flew a B-17 to England, via Labrador and Wales to join the Group at Nuthampstead. He flew 35 missions on 'Norma Kay', the first in September 1944. There were many 'near misses', often problems because the pilots didn't strictly stick to the navigator's instructions - on one occasion the entire Group bombed Pilsen when it was not the target. He afterwards went back to college and followed a career in teaching and coaching athletics.



Air Medal 6 Oak Leaf clusters