James Rockwell

Pilot, 379th Bomb Group, Kimbolton, England



On December 20th of 1943 he was flying a mission to Bremen, Germany when his plane was attacked by Me-109s. The B-17 lost its right horizontal stabilizer and about 2 feet of the rudder. The radio operator and tail gunner were killed. Fearing the plane could not be controlled, one of the waist gunners and the ball turret gunner bailed out. The pilots were able to regain control of the crippled bomber and eventually made it back to Kimbolton with two crewmen dead, one wounded and two missing.



Three of James’ remaining crew were assigned to another pilot’s crew and were lost on a mission. “Only three of our original crew completed the tour of duty with the 379th”. James went on to finish 30 missions serving as group, wing and division lead pilot. He was awarded the Air Medal and Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Clusters