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Personal info

Full name
CROW, James Virgil
Date of birth
22 May 1923
Age
21
Place of birth
Louisiana
Hometown
Caddo Parish, Louisiana

Military service

Service number
18151400
Rank
Sergeant
Function
Engineer/Gunner
Unit
725th Bombardment Squadron,
451st Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
7 February 1945
Place of death
Floridsdorf, Austria

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Lorraine
Plot Row Grave
C 10 83

Immediate family

Members
V. L. Crow (father)
Etta Crow (mother)
Ethel C. (Fox) Crow (wife)

Plane data

Serial number
42-52036
Data
Type: B-24J
Destination: Vienna, Austria
Mission: Bombing of the oil refineries
MACR: 12090

More information

Sgt James V. Crow attended high school for 4 years before he volunteered for the Air Corps of the U.S. Army in New Orleans, Louisiana on 7 November 1942.

2nd Lt Albert D. Sherman:
While over the target Lt Holst received a direct flak hit in the bomb bay of his ship, causing it to burst in flames. He rallied right and in doing so crashed into Lt Burk’s aircraft. It appeared as if Lt Burk tried to avoid a collision, but to no avail. When the ship collided a few bombs were dropped from Lt Burk’s ship. After the collision the two ships remained together until Lt Burk’s ship barrel-rolled earthward out of my view and Lt Holst’s ship disintegrated.

He is remembered at the Springhill Cemetery in Springhill, Webster Parish, Louisiana.

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com – D McLeod, www.archives.gov – WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men, www.fold3.com, www.findagrave.com – Larry Burford, http://aircrewremembered.com/USAAFCombatOperations/Feb.45.html

Photo source: www.wwiimemorial.com – D McLeod www.findagrave.com - Larry Burford, www.newspapers.com – The Times Louisiana 1 March 1945