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name
LEWIS, James Jasper "Jack" - Date of
birth
11 January 1923 -
Age
21 - Place of
birth
Beaufort County, North Carolina -
Hometown
New Bern, Craven County, North Carolina
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
34664540 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Ball Turret Gunner -
Unit
570th Bombardment Squadron,
390th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Finding of Death - Date of
death
28 May 1944 - Place of
death
Lostau, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten - Walls of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
James H. Lewis (father)
Leatha (Jones) Lewis (mother)
Margaret Lewis (sister)
Earl Lewis (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-31985 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Devil's Aces
Destination: Magdeburg, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the BRABAG Braunkohle, oil refinery
MACR: 5258
More information
James Lewis worked in a textile factory.He enlisted at Fort Bragg, North Carolina on 26 January 1943.
About 1407 hours near Magdeburg, A/C #985, flying #5 position, went down in a steep spiral with part of the vertical stabilizer shot away after an attack by enemy aircraft. No fire or smoke was observed. One crew reported the airplane exploded on hitting the ground.
Seven crew members were killed, three were taken prisoner.
In the group photo, James is in the bottom row far left.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.390th.org, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.fold3.com, www.ancestry.com - WWII Draft Cards young men, North Carolina Births and Christenings
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, The Family of Margaret Lewis Franks, courtesy of Debbie Holloman