J B Latham
Military
Latham was the co-pilot of 42-97465, which was shot down over Poland on April 9, 1944.
Family records.
Object Number - UPL 26242 - J.B. LATHAM: A tall Texan from Farmersville, who later moved to McKirney. Ambition is to become best pilot in the Army. Latham was the co-pilot of...
Shot down April 1944 in B-17 #42-97465, Prisoner of War (POW).
JB Latham was born July 7, 1916, in Farmersville Texas, and lived there until his enlistment in the U.S. Cavalry. When he completed his tour of duty with the cavalry, he enlisted in the U.S. Army-Air Corps (now the U.S. Air Force).
Early in World War II, he underwent advanced pilot training and served as a B-17 pilot in the European theater in England. On April 9, 1944, while on a mission over Gdansk, Poland, he was downed, taken prisoner and held in the Stalag Luft I prisoner of war camp until the end of the war. In 1946, he re-enlisted as a master sergeant in the Air Force and served for 20 years despite numerous health problems related to his days as a POW. He retired from the Air Force on June 30, 1955. He worked at the U.S. Post Office in Grants Pass until 1969, when he retired due to war injuries.
Latham died Thursday, Oct. 3, 1991, at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Roseburg. He was survived by his wife, the former Louise Schilling, whom he married May 9, 1942, in Lewiston, Idaho. He enjoyed fishing and watching sports.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: The Scarlet Harlot
- Unit: 457th Bomb Group 751st Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 9 April 1944
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Connington
- Site type: Prisoner of war camp
- Known as: Stalag Luft I, Barth, Germany
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Farmersville, TX 75442, USA | 7 July 1916 | |
|
Other Enlisted in U.S. Cavalry (5th Regiment) |
31 July 1934 - 3 September 1937 | Served three years at Fort Clark, Texas. | |
|
Other Enlisted in U.S. Army Air Corps |
28 February 1938 | ||
|
Other Promoted to Corporal |
2 February 1940 | ||
|
Other Promoted to Sergeant |
19 September 1940 | ||
|
Other Promoted to Staff Sergeant |
15 January 1941 | ||
|
Other Promoted to Technical Sergeant |
15 March 1942 | ||
|
Other Preflight Training |
Santa Ana Army Air Base | 8 June 1942 - 27 July 1942 | |
|
Other Primary Pilot Training (Eagle Field) |
Dos Palos, CA 93620, USA | 27 July 1942 - 30 September 1942 | |
|
Other Basic Pilot Training |
Chico, CA, USA | 30 September 1942 - 2 December 1942 | |
|
Other Advanced Flight Training |
Stockton, CA, USA | 4 December 1942 | |
|
Other Promoted to 2nd Lieutenant |
Stockton, CA, USA | 6 February 1943 | |
|
Other Service in European Theater |
Glatton, Huntingdon PE28, UK | 25 March 1944 - 7 July 1945 | Departed from U.S. on Feb. 8, 1944 to European Theater (ETO) and arrived March 25, 1944. Departed Europe on July 7, 1945 and arrived in U.S. on July 25, 1945. Total: 1 year, 5 months and 7 days. |
|
Other Prisoner of War (POW) |
Barth, Germany | 9 April 1944 - 8 May 1945 | JB Latham held at Stalag Luft I POW camp. |
|
Other Promoted to First Lieutenant |
6 February 1946 | ||
|
Other Retired from military |
Grants Pass, OR, USA | 30 June 1955 | |
|
Died |
Roseburg, OR, USA | 3 October 1991 | JB Latham Obituary JB Latham, 75, of Grants Pass died Thursday, Oct. 3, 1991, at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Roseburg. A private memorial service for the family was held with Hull & Hull Funeral Directors in charge of arrangements. Memorial contributions can be made to the charity of choice. After cremation, the deceased's ashes will be spread over the Port of Brookings. He was born July 7, 1916, in Farmersville Texas, and lived there until his enlistment in the U.S. Cavalry. When he completed his tour of duty with the cavalry, he enlisted in the U.S. Army-Air Corps (now the U.S. Air Force). Early in World War II, he underwent advanced pilot training and served as a B-17 pilot in the European theater in England. On April 9, 1944, while on a mission over Gdansk, Poland, he was downed, taken prisoner and held in the Stalag Luft I prisoner of war camp until the end of the war. In 1946, he re-enlisted as a master sergeant in the Air Force and served for 20 years despite numerous health problems related to his days as a POW. He retired from the Air Force on June 30, 1955. He worked at the U.S. Post Office in Grants Pass until 1969, when he retired due to war injuries. He is survived by his wife, the former Louise Schilling, whom he married May 9, 1942, in Lewiston, Idaho. In addition to his wife, he is survived by his sons, James M. Latham of Grants Pass and Patrick A. Latham of Medford, his brothers Bill Latham of Huntsville, Ala., Melvin Latham and Frank Latham of Farmersville; and sisters, Gay Rogers, Bonnie Rogers and Ola Stanford, all of Farmersville. His daughter, Midge Williams, preceded him in death in September 1990. --Grants Pass Daily Courier (October 7, 1991) |
| Grants Pass, OR, USA |
Revisions
Added a "-" to the A/C serial number in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity & consistency.
Corrected the name by moving "B." from the first name to middle name field.
Brought in information from duplicate record. Source:
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Flak Dodger by Roland Byers; MACR 3665
Military Record and Report of Separation, Certificate of Service, J.B. Latham (January 6, 1947)
Enlisted Record of J.B. Latham
Military Record and Report of Separation, Certificate of Service, J.B. Latham (January 6, 1947)
Enlisted Record of J.B. Latham
According to Ralph Sirianni, author of the memoir "POW #3959," the Russians liberated Stalag Luft I on May 1, 1945. (McFarland and Company Publishers, 2006, Page 127).
Family records, newspaper article (Grants Pass Daily Courier, Oct. 7, 1991)
MACR 3665 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database
