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Personal info

Full name
BENNETT, James W
Date of birth
1920
Age
unknown
Place of birth
Georgia
Hometown
Charleston County, South Carolina

Military service

Service number
7009747
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
Tail Gunner
Unit
409th Bombardment Squadron,
93rd Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
22 December 1943
Place of death
IJsselmeer, 15 km. northeast of Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
B 10 21

Immediate family

Members
Ernest L. Bennett (father)
Frances Bennett (sister)
Pauline Bennett (sister)
Thelma Bennett (sister)
Ernest L. Bennett Jr. (brother)
Eugene Bennett (brother)

Plane data

Serial number
42-63969
Data
Type: B-24D
Destination: Osnabruck, Germany
Mission: Bombing of communication lines
MACR: 2193

More information

S/Sgt James W. Bennett enlisted after graduation from the Charleston, South Carolina High School. He was first stationed at Ft. Moultrie, South Carolina and was sent overseas in September 1943.

Crews of other airplanes in the formation spotted this airplane for the last time in the vicinity of 5238N-0620E. At this point the group ran into intense flak and concentrated enemy fighter attacks. To avoid the flak the lead aircraft took violent evasive action which scattered the formation. In the confusion the whereabouts of this aircraft remained unknown.

The entire crew of nine men was killed.

His remains washed ashore on 18 June 1944, near Oude Zeug, the Netherlands. He was initially buried at the community cemetery of Middenmeer on 20 June 1944.

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, Hannah Majewski - The Daily Record 25 November 1944, www.wwiimemorial.com

Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Hannah Majewski - The Daily Record 25 November 1944