Memorial

More information

S/Sgt James D. Houtchens graduated from Kearney High School in 1943.

He entered the service in July 1943 at Fort Crook, Nebraska and he was selected for specialized training. He studied at Butler University in Indianapolis until January, 1944 then was assigned to flexible gunnery school. He was sent overseas on 3 December 1944.

Statement from S/Sgt George Little, crew member of another B-17 in the same group:
"We were flying over the target at 20,500 feet altitude when I observed aircraft B-17G, 42-31333 to receive a direct flak hit approximately between the bomb-bay and the No. 2 engine. The aircraft immediately started into a vertical dive. The aircraft fuselage was on fire and when it had dropped approximately 5,000 feet the left wing fell off. It continued down when the fuselage was about 3,000 feet from the ground it exploded, and then exploded again when it hit the ground. I saw no crew members leave the aircraft or parachutes open."
All nine crew members were killed.

S/Sgt Houtchens is remembered at Kearney Cemetery in Kearney, Buffalo County, Nebraska with a memorial marker.