James Vinton Collett
Military ROLL OF HONOUR
Added photo
Object Number - UPL 20036 - James V. Collett (from the Perrin, Greene family collection, via J. Ross Greene, nephew of Bombardier Ross W. Perrin and author of "A Fortress and a...
The oldest of four children born to WWI veteran Clarence and his wife Anna, Jim Collett had one year of college and had worked as a skilled tradesman in the aircraft industry before enlisting in February 1943. Sent overseas in 1944, he was a Navigator in the 381st Bomb Group / 532nd Bomb Squadron. Killed In Action (KIA) in the loss of B-17G # 43-38780 on the Squadron’s 11 December 1944 mission to bomb the bridge over the Rhine at Mannheim, Germany.
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: 381st Bomb Group 532nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 16002193 and O-886725
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 532nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 18123654
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 532nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 38468543
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 532nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 19042579
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 532nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 14173829 and O-717895
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 532nd Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 11 December 1944
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Elkins, Randolph County, West Virginia, United States | 20 November 1922 | the son of Clarence and Anna E. Collett |
|
Enlisted |
Baltimore, Maryland, United States | 27 February 1943 | |
|
Other Killed In Action (KIA) |
near the Neckarauer Waldweg, Mannheim, Germany | 11 December 1944 | in the loss of B-17G # 43-38780 |
|
Buried |
Hauptfriedhof, Mannheim, Germany | 15 December 1944 | Initially buried at the main cemetery in Mannheim, Germany |
|
Buried |
James Collett's remains were repatriated to the USA after the war. He rests at Arlington, Section 11, Grave 474-SH |
Revisions
Added details to bio (via J. Ross Greene, nephew of Bombardier Ross W. Perrin.
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 11341 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database
