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name
MELTON, James Archie - Date of
birth
14 November 1924 -
Age
19 - Place of
birth
Ouachita County, Arkansas -
Hometown
Stephens, Ouachita County, Arkansas
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
T-125572 -
Rank
Flight Officer -
Function
Bombardier -
Unit
578th Bombardment Squadron,
392nd Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
4 November 1944 - Place of
death
2 km north of Misburg, 8 km east of Hannover, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Henri-Chapelle - Tablets of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
Archie W. Melton (father)
Annie L. (Dunbar) Melton (mother)
Annie R. Melton (sister)
Richard W. Melton (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-95293 -
Data
Type: B-24H
Nickname: American Beauty
Destination: Misburg, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the oil refinery
MACR: 10350
More information
James Melton was a filling station attendant.He joined the Air Corps of the Army of the United States in Little Rock, Arkansas on 18 November 1942.
He trained at Sheppard Field, Texas, Texas A&M College, College station and Ellington Field, Texas where he received his commission and bombardier's wings on 18 March 1944. He was sent overseas in July 1944.
The aircraft was hit by flak over the target what caused a fire in #2 engine.
Four crew members were taken prisoner, five men were killed. They were initially buried at the military cemetery of Hannover-Limmer, Germany.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.B24.net, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.ancestry.com Family Tree, www.findagrave.com - John Dowdy, www.myheritage.nl - Camden Times
Photo source: www.findagrave.com, www.myheritage.nl - Camden Times, www.findagrave.com - mairbair57 / Harold G. Alford, Arie-Jan van Hees - Bomb 44-04 Midland Texas