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Personal info

Full name
MASSEY, James Y
Date of birth
1916
Age
unknown
Place of birth
unknown
Hometown
unknown

Military service

Service number
O-748439
Rank
First Lieutenant
Function
Pilot
Unit
339th Bombardment Squadron,
96th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
9 April 1944
Place of death
Baltic Sea

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
B 39 15

Immediate family

Members
M. P. Massey (father)
Barbara Massey (sister)
Sarah Massey (sister)
Charles Massey (brother)
Marjorie (Mauldin) Massey (wife)
James Y. Massey (son)
Terrie Massey (daughter)

Plane data

Serial number
42-40051
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Poznan, Poland
MACR: 3652

More information

1st Lt James Y. Massey attended Tech High School in Atlanta, Georgia.

He enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1939. He was sent overseas in February 1943.

On the return flight the bombers were attacked by German fighters and 42-40051 was hit by fire from a ME 410 from II.ZG 26 and crashed into the Baltic Sea off Nysted on the Island of Lolland killing the whole crew.

A memorial stone to the crew can be found in Nysted, Denmark.

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, 1940 US Census, Atlanta Journal - 29 April 1944

Photo source: Peter Schouteten, www.newspapers.com - The Atlanta Constitution 28 June 1943, Atlanta Journal - 29 April 1944