Lt. James J. Ferris III flew 56 combat missions with the 368th Fighter Squadron, 359th Fighter Group, from 21 November 1944 through 19 June 1945 when he was killed in a training accident.



June 1945: A rigid operational training program, designed to maintain the excellent efficiency standard among our pilots, has done a great deal to keep us busy. Every one of the twenty-seven ships we have left (seven having been transferred out during June) is being flown as often as possible. One tragedy married this series of flights. Lt. James J. Ferris, III, son of a well-know contractor in New Jersey, was killed when his plane crashed near Stoke Ferry, East Anglia, on the nineteenth of the month. The cause of the accident is unknown. Lt. Ferris joined this organization in November 1944, and had proved himself a pilot of superior ability. His winning personality and likeable habits quickly made him very popular. Lt. Ferris lived very close to his religion all the while he was with us, having received the Sacraments each Sunday without fail. Father Hewitt, our civilian Roman Catholic Chaplain, officiated at Lt. Ferris’ solemn Funeral Mass, and led the services at the burial in Cambridge.