Missing information?

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

Submit

Personal info

Full name
VOGT, James S
Date of birth
28 February 1921
Age
23
Place of birth
Montana
Hometown
Blaine County, Montana

Military service

Service number
19018012
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
Tail Gunner
Unit
851st Bombardment Squadron,
490th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
9 September 1944
Place of death
Zweieichen, near Cologne, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
D 29 13

Immediate family

Members
Stanley F. Vogt (father)
Gertrude F. Vogt (mother)

Plane data

Serial number
43-38324
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Monheim, Germany
MACR: 8929

More information

S/Sgt Vogt graduated from Chinook High School in 1939.

He was sent overseas in April 1944.

Two Liberators on which he previously had served were wrecked during takeoff or landing.

The ball turret gunner S/Sgt James S. Vogt died when struck by the tail section of the aircraft as he attempted to bail out. His parachute apparently never opened. He was later identified by other crewmembers for the Germans who captured them, where he fell, lying near a farmhouse.
The following is an eye witness account of 1st Lt George K. Abel:
'We were on a bombing run and had just dropped our bombs. About 15 seconds later, Lt Beach´s plane started a sharp turn to the left. The pilot´s window of his plane was open and white smoke was coming out of it. It looked similar to flare smoke. Then he peeled off and my crew reported Lt Beach´s plane diving down, headed back into the target, then leveling off. From then on we were not in position to see his plane.'
Of the 9 crewmembers, 6 were taken POW and 3 KIA. James bailed out, the radio operator saw him about to leave the ship by the waist door before he left. The civilian police of Germany brought in some of his equipment and told the other crewmembers that his parachute had failed to open.

Source of information: Michel Beckers, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.newspapers.com - Great Falls Tribune

Photo source: Michel Beckers, www.newspapers.com - Great Falls Tribune