James Knox Elderkin Jr
Military
Bombardier
401BG - 613BS
Object Number - UPL 37601 - James Knox Elderkin, Jr. Bombardier 401BG - 613BS
Assigned to 613BS, 401BG, 8AF USAAF. Flew 13 missions; Bordeaux, Fr. , Hamburg, Berlin, etc. Flying deputy lead on mission to Leipzig on 20 July 1944 in B-17 42-31037 "Pistol Packin' Mama" when we were shot down over Wehrmar (Spelling actually: Weimar). Navigator, radio operator and tail gunner were killed on the ground. I spent the next ten months at Stalag Luft I, Barth. Prisoner of War (POW).
Awards: AM (2 OLC), POW, WWII Victory, EAME.
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
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-757248
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Pistol Packin Mama
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Benefield
- Site type: Prisoner of war camp
- Known as: Stalag Luft I, Barth, Germany
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Newark, New Jersey | 6 November 1919 | Son of James Knox Snr and Dorothy Elderkin. |
|
Enlisted |
New York City, NY | 20 March 1942 | New York City, New York |
|
Other Baled out POW |
Weimar, Germany | 20 July 1944 | Shot down 20-Jul-44 in B-17 42-31037 'Pistol Packin' Mama'. Prisoner of War (POW). |
|
Other Prisoner of War (POW) |
Barth, Germany | 20 July 1944 | Prisoner of War (POW). Stalag Luft I. |
|
Other Discharged USAAF |
6 November 1945 | Honourable discharge. | |
|
Died |
Pittsburgh, PA | 6 November 2005 | |
|
Buried |
Jefferson Memorial Park Pleasant Hills, Allegheny County, PA | 10 November 2005 | Jefferson Memorial Park Pleasant Hills, Allegheny County, PA Section G01 Valley View East Lot 540 |
|
Based |
Deenethorpe | 20 July 1944 | Assigned to 613BS, 401BG, 8AF USAAF. |
Revisions
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/58791192/james-k_-elderkin
Removed # from A/C serial No. to aid clarity and consistency
Added a connection to A/C #42-31037 listed in the "Summary biography".
Added a "#" to the A/C serial number in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity.
Corrected the A/C connection to match the A/C mentioned in the "Summary biography".
Added a "#" to the A/C serial number in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity.
Added a "#" to the A/C serial number in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity.
https://www.fold3.com/image/29405263
https://www.fold3.com/record/11489537-james-k-elderkin
https://www.fold3.com/image/199194540?rec=199194582
https://www.fold3.com/record/83529729-james-k-elderkin-jr
https://www.fold3.com/record/619687430-james-elderkin-1919
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/58791192/james-k_-elderkin
NARA enlistment record: https://aad.archives.gov/aad/record-detail.jsp?dt=893&mtch=1&cat=all&tf…
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / self; MACR 7545,
href="http://www.401bg.org/Main/History/Members/Details.aspx?ID=2136">http://www.401bg.org/Main/History/Members/Details.aspx?ID=2136>
