James L White Jr
Military
Moved Collection Name to Source : https://www.398th.org/Images/Images_Crews/Text/Flight/Buzza_603_1944090…
Object Number - UPL 49654 - James L White
Co-pilot of 42-102536 on Christmas Eve when the aircraft failed to take off due to icing. The impact killed two crew members and James suffered fractures of the leg and ankle when his seat broke loose and trapped him under the instrument panel. Ignoring the dangers of potentially exploding ordnance Tail gunner John Contento came forward and dragged his co-pilot clear. The 4000lb bombload exploded as the survivors stumbled or were dragged away by their colleagues or ground crew
Air medal
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
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 398th Bomb Group 600th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Here's Hopin
- Unit: 398th Bomb Group 600th Bomb Squadron
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Revisions
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Hell from Heaven: Memoirs of a WW II B-17 Bombardier by Leonard Streitfeld; 398th History Vol II
