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Personal info

Full name
BOSWELL, James R
Date of birth
20 April 1924
Age
19
Place of birth
Manhattan, New York County, New York
Hometown
Cuyahoga County, Ohio

Military service

Service number
O-801822
Rank
Second Lieutenant
Function
Co-Pilot
Unit
335th Bombardment Squadron,
95th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
10 February 1944
Place of death
Near Emden, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
D 10 19

Immediate family

Members
James R Bosell (father)
Lucienne Bosell (mother)
Richard Bosell (brother)
William Bosell (brother)

Plane data

Serial number
42-37826
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Brunswick, Germany
MACR: 2543

More information

2nd Lt James R Boswell graduated from Rocky River High School.

Lt Boswell was seen to leave his co-pilot's seat to open the escape hatch after the plane was mortally damaged. The escape hatch was opened before the plane went into the final spin. It is not known if Lt. Boswell had his chute or not. It is possible that Lt Boswell was thrown out of the plane when it went into the final spin. If Lt Boswell had bailed out and pulled his chute too soon, it may have been burned by the fire coming from the left wing gas tank fire.

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.ancestry.com, www.fold3.com, WWII Draft Card

Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Cleveland Plain Dealer - 2 March 1944, Rocky River High School 1941