James Henry Fiers

Military

Assigned to 524BS, 379BG, 8AF USAAF. Crashed landed at Ash, Kent on return from operations on 30 Jan 1944 in B-17 42-31021 'Whirlaway'. RTD. Damaged by flak near the target at Wernigerode, GR and then shot down by fighters on the return and crashed near Afferden, Holland on 22 Feb 1944 in B-17 42-31510 'Paperdoll'. Prisoner of War (POW).



Awards: POW, WWII Victory, EAME.

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

The insignia of the 379th Bomb Group.

379th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

Donald Patrick McCall

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 524th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 33080429 / O-802871
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

A crashed B-17 Flying Fortress (WA-K, serial number 42-31021) of the 524th Bomb Squadron, 379th Bomb Group, at Overland Farm, Kent, 2 February 1944. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'P253. B-17, 231021, WA:K, C/L Overland Farm, Kent, 2nd Feb 1944. ICM 80099AC.'

42-31021

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Whirlaway
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 524th Bomb Squadron

42-31510

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Paperdoll
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 524th Bomb Squadron

Places

Dulag Luft 12

  • Site type: Prisoner of war camp
  • Known as: Dulag Luft Grosstychow Dulag 12

Stalag Luft IV

  • Site type: Prisoner of war camp
  • Known as: Stalag Luft 4, Gross Tychow, Pomerania

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Indianapolis, Indiana, USA 22 April 1921 Forest Leland and Elma [Wilkinson] Fiers.

Enlisted

29 September 1942

Other

Prisoner of War (POW)

Tychowo, Poland 22 February 1944 Stalag Luft 4 Gross-Tychow (formerly Heydekrug) Pomerania, Prussia (moved to Wobbelin Bei Ludwigslust) (To Usedom Bei Savenmunde) 54-16

Other

Discharged USAAF

13 October 1945 Honourable discharge.

Died

Indianapolis, Marion County, IN 26 August 1998

Buried

Washington Park East Cemetery, Indianapolis, Marion County, IN Washington Park East Cemetery Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana

Based

Seething 22 February 1944 Assigned to 524BS, 379BG, 8AF USAAF.

Revisions

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

https://www.fold3.com/image/28746919
https://www.fold3.com/image/638860239
https://www.fold3.com/image/651977107
https://www.fold3.com/image/638859996
https://www.fold3.com/record/37621682-james-h-fiers
https://www.fold3.com/record/628841777-james-fiers-1921
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/129270599/james-henry-fiers

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/129270599/james-henry-fiers

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added S/N and POW camp information from WW2 POW records at the National Archives (NARA).

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added a connection to A/C # 42-31021 mentioned in the "Summary biography".

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 2875 / MACR 2875, Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database