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Personal info

Full name
MENAUL, James Jr "Jimmy"
Date of birth
19 November 1923
Age
19
Place of birth
Pasadena, Los Angeles County, California
Hometown
Pasadena, Los Angeles County, California

Military service

Service number
19179204
Rank
Sergeant
Function
Tail Gunner
Unit
331st Bombardment Squadron,
94th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
14 October 1943
Place of death
South of Essey-et Maizerais, France

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Lorraine
Plot Row Grave
C 10 41

Immediate family

Members
James Menaul (father)
Jessie Menaul (mother)
Catherine Menaul (sister)

Plane data

Serial number
42-3338
Data
Type: B-17F
Nickname: Sleepy Time Gal
Destination: Schweinfurt, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the ball bearing plants
MACR: 791

More information

Sgt James Menaul enlisted in Los Angeles, California on 26 October 1942.

Sgt. Menaul, his pilot and three other crew members were killed when their B-17 was hit by anti-aircraft fire and enemy fighters. Co-Pilot, 2nd Lt John T. Chandler, survived and evaded capture with the help of the French Resistance.

During his debriefing after returning to England Lt Chandler described what happened that day:
"Hit by flak over Schweinfurt... We lost the formation and headed for France. At 18,000 feet we caught fire, fighters came in to finish us off..."

Wounded in the stomach by flak, Sgt. Menaul crawled back to his post and continued to return fire until mortally wounded.

He was first buried in Toul, France, near where the wreckage of his plane landed, his remains were later moved to the Lorraine American Cemetery, St. Avold, France.

Source of information: André Koch, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov - WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / 1930/1940 Census / California Birth Index, 1905-1995, www.fold3.com - MACR, http://www.8thafhs.com, www.findagrave.com - Barbara Haines
Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Barbara Haines