James H Bales
Military ROLL OF HONOURTechnical Sergeant James H. Bales was born on 13-Jan-19. His next of kin was his mother, Della Bates McCann nee Kennedy, and his sister, Lotus Mildred Bales. His hometown was Chattanooga, Tennessee.
On 2-Feb-44, while returning from a mission against V-Rocket launch sites in Watten, France, his B-24, 41-24282 'Ruthless', crashed on a hillside above Eastbourne attempting to locate Friston ELG in poor weather. He died of wounds later that day at the St. Mary’s Hospital in Eastbourne, Sussex.
His remains are buried in the Montgomery Cemetery in Dayton, Tennessee.
Awards: PH.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 506th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-424895
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: Ruth-Less
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 506th Bomb Squadron
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Pathway
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Dayton, Tennessee | 13 January 1919 | Son of James H and Della [Kennedy] Bales. |
|
Enlisted |
Fort Oglethorpe, GA | 15 May 1942 | Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia |
|
Died |
Eastbourne, East Sussex, UK | 2 February 1944 | On February 2, 1944, while returning from a mission against V-Rocket launch sites in France, his B-24, 41-24282, 'Ruthless', crashed on a hillside above Eastbourne attempting to locate Friston ELG in poor weather. He died of wounds later that day at the St. Mary’s Hospital in Eastbourne, Sussex. |
| Chattanooga, TN, USA | Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA. | ||
|
Buried |
Montgomery Cemetery Dayton, TN | Montgomery Cemetery Dayton, Tennessee, USA. | |
|
Based |
Shipdham | 2 February 1944 | Assigned to 506BS, 44BG, 8AF USAAF. |
Revisions
Ancestry.com and transcript of attached Individual Deceased Personnel File
IDPF and/or crash report researched by Bill Beigel. IDPF donated to American Air Museum by Bill Beigel. For more information about this flyer, you may contact http://ww2research.com.
IDPF and/or crash report researched by Bill Beigel. IDPF donated to American Air Museum by Bill Beigel. For more information about this flyer, you may contact http://ww2research.com.
IDPF and/or crash report researched by Bill Beigel. IDPF donated to American Air Museum by Bill Beigel. For more information about this flyer, you may contact http://ww2research.com.
Combat Chronology Supplement p. 223-224, 44th Bomb Group Roll of Honor and Casualties, pp. 202-203, 8th AF Losses / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia