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Personal info

Full name
SHIFFER, James Lewis
Date of birth
23 October 1920
Age
22
Place of birth
Tunkhannock, Wyoming County, Pennsylvania
Hometown
Wyoming, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania

Military service

Service number
33355074
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
Left Waist Gunner
Unit
579th Bombardment Squadron,
392nd Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart

Death

Status
Finding of Death
Date of death
4 October 1943
Place of death
Over the North Sea, north of the Frisian Islands

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Walls of the Missing

Immediate family

Members
William J. Shiffer (father)
Virginia (Cook) Shiffer (mother)
Alice E. Shiffer (sister)
Edward L. Shiffer (brother)
Altheda Shiffer (sister)
Lillian Shiffer (sister)
William J. Shiffer (brother)
Jean M. Shiffer (sister)
Doris V. Shiffer (sister)
Betty M. Shiffer (sister)
Glenn D. Shiffer (brother)
Jessie Shiffer (sister)
Doris (Solanick) Shiffer (wife)

Plane data

Serial number
42-7474
Data
Type: B-24H
Nickname: Satan's Flame
Destination: North Sea
Mission: Diversion
MACR: 891

More information

S/Sgt James L. Shiffer graduated from Tunkhannock High School and worked in the store of his uncle.

The mission's objective was to deconcentrate German defenses, primarily fighter units, and draw them away from the main bomber routes across the continent.

This aircraft was last seen when it lost altitude with one or more engines on fire as a result of fighter attacks. Three or four parachutes were noted at that time.

The entire crew of ten men was killed.

His brother William served with the U.S. Navy.

The photo was taken in his senior year in high school.

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, Sophie Vleugels, www.B24.NET, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.ancestry.com - Family Trees, The Wilkes-Barre Record, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Friday, October 15, 1943, Page 13

Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Larry Shiffer