Memorial

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2nd Lt James R. Burns graduated from Central High School. He was employed as operations agent at the Pennsylvania Central Airlines.

He volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States in Grand Rapids, Michigan on 6 April 1942 and was sent overseas in November 1943.

T/Sgt Mario D. Garcia, one of the surviving crew members, stated after the war that the airplane was attacked by enemy fighters about two minutes before the I.P.. The n°2 and n°3 engines, oxygen system and intercom system were knocked out. The salvoed their bombs, went down to about 14,000 feet and turned back, heading for home by themselves. They seemed to be doing alright with only the radio operator lightly wounded on a finger. Probably over Luxembourg they flew trough a snow cloud which caused the plane to go out of control and go into a steep dive. When the plane was under control for a couple of seconds, they all bailed out.

Eight crew members survived and were taken prisoner, two were killed.

Lt Burns bailed out but his parachute failed to open. His body was found by the Germans in Forzée-Buissonville.

The plane itself crashed in the woods north of Serinchamps.