Missing information?

Do you have any additional information you would like to share about a soldier?

Submit

Personal info

Full name
O'CONNOR, James Eugene
Date of birth
26 September 1920
Age
23
Place of birth
Conrad, Grundy County, Iowa
Hometown
Iowa City, Johnson County, Iowa

Military service

Service number
17043566
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
Left Waist Gunner
Unit
526th Bombardment Squadron,
379th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters

Death

Status
Missing in Action
Date of death
13 March 1944
Place of death
English Channel, off the coast of Boulogne, France

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Tablets of the Missing

Immediate family

Members
James D. O'Connor (father)
Hazel M. (Mason) O'Connor (mother)
Kathryn O'Connor (sister)
Barbara O'Connor (sister)
Charlotte A. O'Connor (sister)
Bernard O'Connor (brother)
Craig O'Connor (brother)

Plane data

Serial number
42-39980
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Just So
Destination: Croisette, France
Mission: Bombing of the V1 site
MACR: 3240

More information

James O'Connor attended high school for four years.

He volunteered for the Army of the United States at Fort De Moines, Iowa on 19 February 1942.

The aircraft went down with the right wing on fire as a result of anti-aircraft fire. Ten parachutes were seen coming out of the aircraft.

He is remembered at the Mount Cavalry Cemetery in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.findagrave.com,
www.ancestry.com - 1940 Census, http://francecrashes39-45.net

Photo source: FOHF, www.americanairmuseum.com, www.findagrave.com - Gail Wenhardt