James W Branagan
Military ROLL OF HONOURJames Branagan enlisted in the Air Corps in October 1942 and followed navigation training. Sent overseas, he was assigned to the 94th Bomb Group / 332nd Bomb Squadron in England as a Navigator. On his sixth mission, the 4 March 1944 one to Berlin, he had to bail out of B-17 # 42-39801, but his parachute failed to open. His body was found by the Germans and buried in nearby Wevelgem. His remains were transferred to the Ardennes American Cemetery after the war.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 94th Bomb Group 332nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 14075415 and O-749191
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 94th Bomb Group 332nd Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 94th Bomb Group 332nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 19141008
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 94th Bomb Group 332nd Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 94th Bomb Group 332nd Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Double Trouble II, Northern Queen
- Unit: 94th Bomb Group 332nd Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 4 March 1944
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Rougham
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Enlisted |
Newark, New Jersey, United States | 21 October 1942 | |
|
Other Bailed out |
4 March 1944 | of B-17 # 42-39801 over Menin, Belgium | |
|
Other Killed In Action (KIA) |
near Wervik, Belgium | 4 March 1944 | His body was found by Belgians in a field several minutes before the Germans arrived. His rip cord had not been pulled |
|
Born |
New Jersey, United States | the son of John and Mary Branagan | |
| Jersey City, Hudson County, New Jersey, United States | |||
|
Buried |
Wevelgem, Belgium | Initially buried in the Municipal cemetery of Wevelgem near Courtrai / Kortrijk, Belgium | |
|
Buried |
His remains were brought to the American cemetery in Neupré after the war. He rests at Plot: B; Row: 44; Grave: 18 |
Revisions
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 2978 / MACR 2978, Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database