Missing information?

Do you have any additional information you would like to share about a soldier?

Submit

Personal info

Full name
LATIMER, James Todd
Date of birth
17 February 1920
Age
24
Place of birth
Anderson, Anderson County, South Carolina
Hometown
Anderson County, South Carolina

Military service

Service number
O-407301
Rank
Captain
Function
Pilot
Unit
777th Bombardment Squadron,
464th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
10 May 1944
Place of death
Breitenau am Steinfelde, Austria

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Lorraine
Plot Row Grave
A 29 20

Immediate family

Members
James B. Latimer (father)
Grace (Weir) Latimer (mother)

Plane data

Serial number
42-52468
Data
Type: B-24H
Nickname: Red Hot Riding Hood
Destination: Wiener Neustadt, Austria
Mission: Bombing of the ME-109 plant
MACR: 4658

More information

Capt James T. Latimer attended college before he volunteered for the Air Corps of the U.S. Army in Fort Jackson Columbia, South Carolina on 12 December 1941.

2nd Lt George Sowa:
"Approximately 1220, on 10 May 1944, which was about 2 minutes after bombs away, a B-24, which I feel sure was piloted by Capt James T. Latimer, came under Able Box with number two engine burning. It was about 1,000 feet below when I saw three chutes open and possibly two more men bailed out, which could have been pieces of wreckage from the plane. Not being able to watch the plane constantly, since I was trying to hold my position in formation, the next glance I got of the plane it was in a steep gliding turn to the left picking up speed. The plane pointed its nose toward the ground and the left wing broke off at the fuselage, with flames bursting from that portion of the wing and fuselage. I couldn’t follow the plane any longer, since my view was cut off by the fuselage of my own plane in Fox Box."

2nd Lt Harry B. Hayes:
"Ship exploded before he was able to bail out."

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov – WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record, www.fold3.com, www.findagrave.com - Buddy

Photo source: www.findagrave.com – Robin Pellicci Moore / Michel Beckers