Robert W James

Military ROLL OF HONOUR
Bob James- co-pilot, Fred Heiser- pilot and John Hill- navigator, all of the 385th Bomb Group with a B-17 Flying Fortress. Image via Tim Bivens. Biven's has handwritten on reverse: 'L to R: Bob James- Copilot (later KIA in USAAF Mosquito), Fred Heiser- Pilot, John Hill- Navigator, 550th BS, 385th BG, 1944. Note 550th BS patch on A-2's.' media-380094.jpg FRE 1339 Bob James- co-pilot, Fred Heiser- pilot and John Hill- navigator, all of the 385th Bomb Group with a B-17 Flying Fortress. Image via Tim Bivens. Biven's has handwritten on reverse: 'L to R: Bob James- Copilot (later KIA in USAAF Mosquito NS757), Fred Heiser- Pilot, John Hill- Navigator, 550th BS, 385th BG, 1944. Note 550th BS patch on A-2's.' Roger Freeman Collection

Roger Freeman Photo

Object Number - FRE 1339 - Bob James- co-pilot, Fred Heiser- pilot and John Hill- navigator, all of the 385th Bomb Group with a B-17 Flying Fortress. Image via Tim Bivens....

Assigned to 550BS, 385BG, 8AF USAAF. Flew a tour on B-17's. Second tour with 653BS, 25BG, 8AF USAAF. DH98 Mosquito NS757 crashed on local training flight. Crashed at RAF Station Shepherds Grove due to unknown cause. Plane dipped to the left, dove and crashed. Killed in Flying Accident (KIFA)



Awards: DFC, AM, PH.

Connections

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Units served with

A B-26 Marauder of the 654th Bomb Squadron, 25th Bomb Group, parked on a runway. Handwritten on reverse: '654 BS.'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Reconnaissance
The insignia of the 385th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 25th Bomb Group 653rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-1997774
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: Mosquito
  • Unit: 25th Bomb Group 653rd Bomb Squadron
Bob James- co-pilot, Fred Heiser- pilot and John Hill- navigator, all of the 385th Bomb Group with a B-17 Flying Fortress. Image via Tim Bivens. Biven's has handwritten on reverse: 'L to R: Bob James- Copilot (later KIA in USAAF Mosquito), Fred Heiser- Pilot, John Hill- Navigator, 550th BS, 385th BG, 1944. Note 550th BS patch on A-2's.'
  • Aircraft Type: Mosquito
  • Unit: 25th Bomb Group 653rd Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: Mosquito
  • Nicknames: Angela
  • Unit: 25th Bomb Group 653rd Bomb Squadron

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

New York City, NY 4 March 1921

Died

RAF Shepherds Grove 9 April 1945 Crashed on local training flight in Mosquito NS757. Crashed at RAF Station Shepherds Grove. KIFA

Based

Watton 9 April 1945 Assigned to 653BS, 25BG, 8AF USAAF.

Buried

Long Island National Cemetery, East Farmingdale, Suffolk County, NY Long Island National Cemetery East Farmingdale, Suffolk County, New York

Based

Great Ashfield Assigned to 550BS, 385BG, 8AF USAAF.

Revisions

Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources

Brought in information from duplicate record. Sources:
http://aviation-safety.net
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / 385th Bomb Group unit history

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Combat Chronology, Unit History; Aerial Intelligence of the 8th Air Force, pg 178 / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia

Robert W James: Gallery (2 items)