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name
NIX, James Seth - Date of
birth
13 August 1920 -
Age
23 - Place of
birth
Colorado -
Hometown
Fellows, Kern County, California
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-661541 -
Rank
First Lieutenant -
Function
Pilot -
Unit
359th Bombardment Squadron,
303rd Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
19 August 1943 - Place of
death
Carthuizerpolder
Raamsdonksveer, The Netherlands
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| H | 11 | 22 |
Immediate family
-
Members
James M. Nix (father)
Betty M. (Duckworth) Nix (mother)
Goldie M. Nix (wife)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-3192 -
Data
Type B-17F
Nickname: G for George
Destination: Gilze Rijen, The Netherlands
Mission: Bombing of the airfield
MACR: 284
More information
1st Lt James S. Nix graduated from Taft Union High School and attended college.He joined the Air Corps of the Regular Army as an aviation cadet in Los Angeles, California on 7 November 1941. He received his first flight training in Taft. He graduated and received his commission and silver wings at Ellington Field, Houston, Texas.
The mission was to bomb the airfield of Gilze-Rijen with 38 B-17's from different bomber groups. Due to mist and the reflection of the sun, a first attempt to localise the target failed. The majority of the airplanes return to their home base but the 303rd Bomber Group turns and tries a second time, but now this group is behind the main formation without the much needed fighter protection. At that moment the group is attacked by a large group of FW-190's who shoot down several bombers.
This B-17 was shot down by enemy fighters halfway the target and the enemy coast between Oosterhout and Raamsdonkveer, Holland. A wing caught fire and the plane exploded. Seven crew members survived and were taken prisoner, four were killed.
The wreckage of the airplane was found in 1983.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, 303bombgroup, www.ancestry.com - U.S., Headstone and Interment Records for U.S. Military Cemeteries on Foreign Soil / 1930 Census, www.newspapers.com - The Fresno Bee The Republican
Photo source: Michel Beckers, 303bombgroup, Gerrie Franken - SOHE