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name
WITHER, James Stuart - Date of
birth
12 March 1920 -
Age
24 -
Place of birth
Monterey County, California -
Hometown
Monterey County, California
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-802093 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Pilot -
Unit
62nd Fighter Squadron,
56th Fighter Group
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
14 January 1945 - Place of
death
Burg, north of Magdeburg, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Henri-Chapelle
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| C | 8 | 59 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Nathaniel Wither (father)
Erma (Hall) Wither (mother)
John N. Wither (brother)
Gordon H. Wither (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
44-19964 -
Data
Type: P-47D
Destination: Magdeburg-Stendal, Germany
Mission: Bomber Escort
MACR: 11857
More information
2nd Lt James S. Wither graduated from Monterey High School in 1938 and attended Salinas Junior College.Before he was sent overseas, he served as an instructor in basic flying at Sumpter, South Carolina.
At this time, two more 109s came in after us. I called for him (Lt Wither) to break and reefed my A/C hard to the left to try and get a shot. One enemy aircraft broke off and pulled up to join about ten plus above us. One enemy aircraft continued to press the attack and took a deflection shot at my wingman (Lt Wither). I did not see any strikes, but I observed my wingman going straight down smoking.
Source of information: Michel Beckers, Nigel Julian, Peter Schouteten, www.56thfightergroup.co.uk, www.newspapers.com - The Californian 14 February 1945
Photo source: Michel Beckers, Nigel Julian, Peter Schouteten, www.ancestry.com - Monterey Union High School Yearbook 1938