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name
RIVERS, James C - Date of
birth
26 August 1924 -
Age
20 - Place of
birth
Fayette County, Kentucky -
Hometown
Pomona, Los Angeles County, California
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
39290400 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
unknown -
Unit
849th Bombardment Squadron,
490th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
17 March 1945 - Place of
death
Bad Camberg, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| H | 11 | 18 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Bessie (Crane) Rivers (mother)
Lucille Rivers (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
43-38046 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Bitterfeld, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the oil refinery
MACR: 13080
More information
S/Sgt James C. Rivers enlisted in Los Angeles, California on 22 March 1943.En route to the target 43-38046 was involved in a mid-air collision with B-17G 43-38071. 43-38046 was seen to break up in the air and no parachutes were observed.
It was reported that the formation was flying through some bumpy air during which it was believed that 43-38046, flying below 43-38071, drifted upwards and the two aircraft collided. 43-38071 was seen falling out of formation and heading toward Allied territory with a severely damaged nose section. The aircraft carried out an emergency landing at Sint Truiden (also known as Brustem airfield (A-92)) in Belgium. The crew survived the collision and the landing. However, as a result of the collision the body of Sgt. George V. Devlin from 43-38046 was found lodged in the nose of the aircraft.
The entire crew of nine men of 43-38046 was killed.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.fold3.com - MACR
Photo source: Tom Verheijden, Arie-Janvan Hees - The Pomona Progress Bulletin California 11 May 1946