James Johnston Lux

Military

Prisoner of War (POW). On a mission November 5, 1943 to Gelsenkirchen on B-17 #42-30088 'Squawkin' Hawk II', pilot William R. Flesh ordered a bail out after plane suffered severe bomb damage. 8 men jumped, but pilot Flesh and Co-Pilot John G. Gossage were able to regain control and landed at the RAF base at Tangmere, Kent. Bombardier James Lux was one of the four men made prisoner. Radio Operator Conner Brewster was killed when his parachute didn't open. Three other crew members managed to evade with the help of the Belgian Comète evasion network. MACR 15553.

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Units served with

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 100th Bomb Group 349th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 34201968
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator / Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 100th Bomb Group 349th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 36507324
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Assistant Radio Operator / Ball Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 349th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 17033849 at enlistment, then O-xxxxxx
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 100th Bomb Group 349th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 11045517
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 100th Bomb Group 349th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 18024533 at enlistment, then O-725967
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Navigator

Aircraft

A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30088) nicknamed "Squawkin' Hawk I" of the 100th Bomb Group, signed by personnel. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Thorpe Abbott. Home 17/5/44. 100th Bomb Group.' Printed caption on reverse: '53312AC - Proud Veteran Goes Home ... With hundreds of autographs on its sleek hull, the war-weary veteran Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress "Squawkin' Hawk I" is shown shortly before it took off from its 8th AAF bases in England to return to the U.S. for retirement. Covering 47,720
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Squawkin Hawk II
  • Unit: 349th Bomb Squadron 100th Bomb Group

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

2 December 1919 New York State

Enlisted

16 March 1942 Utica, New York

Other

captured

5 November 1943 in the vicinity of Peer, Limburg Province, Belgium, after bailing out of B-17 42-30088

Other

Prisoner of War (POW)

5 November 1943 Interned at Stalag Luft 3 in Sagan, Poland. Force-marched from there to Stalag 7A, Moosburg, Germany. Liberated there by US troops 29 April 1945. NARA WWII POW records : "Returned to Military Control 12 June 1945."

Died

12 March 2007
Oneida County, New York

Buried

James Lux rests at the Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, King County, Washington

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added a "#" to the A/C serial number in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity.

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

MACR 15553
NARA WWII Enlistment records
NARA WWII POW records
VA Gravesite Locator

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Losses of the 8th & 9th AFs Vol. I by Bishop & Hey pp. 511-2