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name
CRAIG, James Walter - Date of
birth
21 January 1920 -
Age
23 - Place of
birth
Whitemarsh, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania -
Hometown
Fort Washington, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
13004719 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Tail Gunner -
Unit
328th Bombardment Squadron,
93rd Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Distinguished Flying Cross,
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
22 December 1943 - Place of
death
North Sea, west of Texel, The Netherlands
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| J | 17 | 20 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Walter H. Craig (father)
Anna L. (Bimson) Craig (mother)
Elizabeth L. Craig (sister)
Ruth D. Craig (sister)
Ann J. Craig (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-41015 -
Data
Type: B-24D
Nickname: Wise Guy
Destination: Osnabrück, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the marshalling yards
MACR: 2191
More information
S/Sgt James W. Craig joined the Regular Army in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on 30 July 1940. He trained at Fort Bragg, North Carolina for two years with the Artillery before hew as transferred to the Air Corps. He completed his training in Texas and Colorado before going overseas in May 1943.At 14:52 hours the group was hit by both fighters and flak. The aircraft had several large bursts hit close by, and then took evasive action, which consisted chiefly of violent turns. This scattered the formation. It was last seen at 5238N-0620E, at 1455 hours as it passed under the formation.
The airplane crashed in the North Sea. The entire crew of nine men was killed.
On 20 May 1944, the remains of James Craig washed ashore at Vliehors, on the Island of Vlieland. He was buried by the Germans at the cemetery of Vlieland with military honor a day later.
The other crew members are listed on the Walls of the Missing at Cambridge Cemetery.
His remains were disinterred on 21 November 1945 and reburied at Margraten.
He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his participation in Operation Tidal Wave, the assaulty on the Ploesti Oil Fields in Rumania.
Source of information: Jac Engels, Raf Dyckmans, Carla Mans, www.archives.gov, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com - Historical Society of Montgomery County, www.findagrave.com, www.fold3.com - 1930 Census / MACR, www.ancestry.com - Family Tree / U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men
Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Des Philippet / Chotsie Kelly (Via Sheree Dowdle)