James Madison Bechtel

Military ROLL OF HONOUR
media-55897.jpeg UPL 55897 James M Bechtel

USAAF Photo

Object Number - UPL 55897 - James M Bechtel

Assigned to 324BS, 91BG, 8AF USAAF. Ditched into North Sea on 4-Mar-43 in B-17 41-24464 'Excalibur' after repeated fighter attacks. Losses reports Bechtel survived the ditching after floating in a life raft for 7 hours before a British minesweeper picked them up. RTD



He was killed in B-17 42-29537 which went down in the channel near France on mission to Rouen marshalling yards. 28-Mar-43. Killed in Action (KIA) MACR 16086



Awards: PH.

Connections

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Units served with

Unofficial emblem of the 91st Bomb Group.

91st Bomb Group

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

People

Allen Arthur Brill

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 324th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 17019995 / O-442336
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
A bomber crew of the 91st Bomb Group at interrogation after a mission. Passed for publication 24 Mar 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'Fortresses' Day Raid on Wilhelmshaven - The German Naval Base at Wilhelmshaven was successfully attacked in daylight March 22 by American Flying Fortresses and Liberators. This was the third heavy raid for U.S. bombers on Wilhelmshaven. Despite strong fighter opposition, the bombers battled their way to the target and dropped their loads of explosives. Three bombers were

John A Coen

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 324th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-662748
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

41-24464

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Excalibur
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 324th Bomb Squadron

42-29537

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 324th Bomb Squadron

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Perkins County, Nebraska 23 December 1921 Son of Howard E. and Zata L. Smith Bechtel.

Died

Killed in action

English Channel 28 March 1943

Buried

Ardennes American Cemetery and Memorial Ardennes American Cemetery and Memorial Plot D Row 12 Grave 54

Based

28 March 1943 Assigned to 324BS, 91BG, 8AF USAAF.

Revisions

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

https://www.fold3.com/record/529855342/james-m-bechtel-american-battle-…
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56357052/james-madison-bechtel

Date
ContributorLucyd
Changes
Sources

Bechtel

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / History of the 91st BG, Combat Chronology Supplement p. 204, National WWII monument web site, Losses of the 8th and 9th AFs Vol I by Bishop and Hey p. 87

James Madison Bechtel: Gallery (1 items)