James Jeremiah Mahoney
MilitaryWrote 'Reluctant Witness', his memoirs.
Survived ordeal of very hard-luck original 492nd BG, which lost more than 40% of its combatants in 3 months, to serve with the relatively good luck 467th BG. Took excellent color films of South Atlantic crossing, base and combat operations of the two groups.
In solo flight over violatile front lines, personally scouted out the Clastres (France) forward air base for major 96th Wing operation 'trucking' gasoline to Patton's 3rd Army in Spet 1944.
Was well regarded natural leader; made Lt. Col. at 27 and promoted to Deputy CO at Rackheath under the rigid but very capable Col. Albert Joseph Shower.
DFC w/2 Oak Leaf Cluster; Air Medal w/6 Oak Leaf Cluster; 9 campaign ribbons
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
Added by his son, David J Patton, 6Dec2016.
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 467th Bomb Group
- Service Numbers: O-820815
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Newton, Massachusetts | 4 February 1917 | |
Died |
15 September 1998 | ||
Buried |
Revisions
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / son, Brian H. Mahoney