James A Bourne

Military

Assigned to 783BS, 465BG, 15AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) from raid on Oil refinery in Blechhammer, Germany. When B-24 41-28853 lost a wing over the target he was blown out of the aircraft, fortunately with his chute attached, he survived to be captured. 20-Nov-44. Prisoner of War (POW). MACR 9889.



Awards: AM (OLC), POW, American Campaign Medal, WWII Victory, EAME.

Connections

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Units served with

A B-24 Liberator (serial number 41-28853) of the 456th Bomb Group, 15th Air Force explodes in mid-air over Blechammer as a result of a direct flak hit. 20 November 1944.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Fifteenth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 465th Bomb Group 783rd Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Squadron Commander - Pilot

Aircraft

A B-24 Liberator (serial number 41-28853) of the 456th Bomb Group, 15th Air Force explodes in mid-air over Blechammer as a result of a direct flak hit. 20 November 1944.
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Unit: 465th Bomb Group 783rd Bomb Squadron

Places

  • Site type: Prisoner of war camp
  • Known as: Dulag Luft Grosstychow Dulag 12
  • Site type: Prisoner of war camp
  • Known as: Stalag Luft III, Sagan, Germany

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Portsmouth, OH 19 June 1921 Son of C S Bourne.

Enlisted

Hamilton, OH 15 December 1943 Hamilton, Ohio

Other

Shot down / bailed out

Blechhammer, 92439 Bodenwöhr, Germany 20 November 1944 Failed to Return (FTR) from raid on Oil refinery in Blechhammer, Germany. When B-24 42-28853 lost a wing over the target he was blown out of the aircraft, fortunately with his chute attached, he survived to be captured. 20-Nov-44. POW. MACR 9889.

Other

Prisoner of War (POW)

Zagan, Poland 20 November 1944 Prisoner of War (POW). Stalag Luft III.

Other

Discharged USAAF

2 February 1946 Honourable discharge.

Died

14 October 1993
Portsmouth, OH 45662, USA Husband to Ruby M Bourne.

Based

Pantanella 20 November 1944 Assigned to 783BS, 465BG, 15AF USAAF.

Revisions

Date
Contributordecwriter
Changes
Sources

NARA file verified Air Medal with 1 oak leaf cluster.

Date
Contributordecwriter
Changes
Sources

NARA file verified Air Medal with 1 oak leaf cluster.

Date
Contributordecwriter
Changes
Sources

Per MACR 9889, changed B-24 serial number to #41-28853.

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes