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name
CROCKETT, James Rast "Jimmy" - Date of
birth
16 August 1922 -
Age
21 -
Place of birth
Montgomery, Montgomery County, Alabama -
Hometown
Chattanooga, Hamilton County, Tennessee
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-800479 -
Rank
First Lieutenant -
Function
Pilot -
Unit
503rd Fighter Squadron,
339th Fighter Group
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
19 May 1944 - Place of
death
Ludwigslust, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Lorraine
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| D | 13 | 14 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Clarence G. Crockett Sr. (father)
Mary G. (Rast) Crockett (mother)
Clarence G. Crockett Jr. (brother)
William C. Crockett (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-106785 -
Data
Type: P-51B
Destination: Berlin, Germany
Mission: Bomber escort
MACR: 8651
More information
1st Lt James R. Crockett graduated from Central High School and was employed by the Western Electric Company before he enlisted in March 1942.Statement of 2nd Lt Joseph Wolfort:
On May 19, 1944 at 1530 hours I was flying Lt. J.R. Crockett’s wing while strafing a train. As I started down to make a second pass Lt Crockett was firing on the train. It appeared to me as he started to pull up from this pass he either mashed into the train or misjudged and flew into it. I thought that I saw a piece of his airplane fly through the air. It appeared to be a part of the tail. I was unable to see anymore due to the steam from the locomotive. I did not actually see him hit the locomotive but was unable to contact him on the radio after this, and just prior to this second pass we had perfect communication.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.fold3.com, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / Clark Banks Tree, www.findagrave.com – Albert Ledoux / Astrid - www.etvma.org/veterans/james-r-crockett-8743/
Photo source: www.findagrave.com – FV / Astrid - www.etvma.org/veterans/james-r-crockett-8743/