Assigned to 786BS, 466BG, 8AF USAAF. Shot down 11-May-44 in B-24 41-28664 'Merchant Of Venice', Killed in Action (KIA). MACR 4802



"My uncle Jim attended Sacramento High School, class of 1939. He was a ROTC student and attained the Rank of First Lieutenant. He was attending Sacramento Junior College. Before the USA became involved in the war, he joined the Canadian Air Corps, received his Gunner Wing and was in flight school when Pearl Harbor was attacked. The Canadians allowed him to transfer to the AAC in April of 1942. His goal in life after the war was to attend medical school and become a doctor.



He travelled to England on the Queen Mary as ground crew, he was an armorer. I was able to find his best friend in the Service, John Smith in 2002. He lived right here in Sacramento, moving here after the war. John was able to fill in many missing parts of my uncle's life in the AAC. Since Jim had his gunner wing from Canada he began flying on missions as a gunner. I always wondered if he should have been promoted to a Sgt."



Awards: AM, EAME, PH.