James Hubert Royer Jr

Military

James Royer was Co-Pilot on the 15 October 1944 mission to Cologne/Köln, Germany, on board B-24 #41-29128 with the Glen Rowe crew. Hit by Flak on the return flight, the badly damaged bomber crashed in an emergency landing attempt at the Saint-Trond airfield, Belgium. Like 5 other crew members, he survived the crash. Pilot Rowe and 2 other men were killed.

Connections

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Units served with

A flight of B-24 Liberators of the 446th Bomb Group fly in formation above the clouds.

446th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

James H Hedren

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 446th Bomb Group 704th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 17063452 / O-769070
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator

Luchious Luke Howington

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 446th Bomb Group
  • Service Numbers: 38387966
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade)
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner

Frank J Janik

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 446th Bomb Group 704th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 36597649
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator

Glen Earl Rowe

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 446th Bomb Group 704th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19100929 / O-699774
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

41-29128

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: - Lady Luck
  • Unit: 446th Bomb Group 704th Bomb Squadron

Missions

The flak damaged nose of a B-17 Flying Fortress of the 398th Bomb Group. Printed caption on reverse: '54600 AC- England- 1st lt Lawrence M De Lancey, Corvallis, Oregon, landed this B-17 safely after its nose was literally shot away by flak over Cologne, Germany. Please Credit: Official US Air Force Photo.' Printed caption on image: 'This B-17 landed safely after losing its nose to flak. US AAF Photo.' Handwritten caption on reverse: '43-38172 of 398th BG.'

678

  • Date: 15 October 1944

Places

Aerial photograph of Bungay (Flixton) airfield, looking south, the technical site- with T2 hangar- and control tower are to the right, where the main airfield gate is also situated, 16 October 1945. Photograph taken by No. 541 Squadron, sortie number RAF/106G/UK/930. English Heritage (RAF Photography).

Bungay

  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Flixton

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

3 November 1920 Terre Haute, Vigo County, Indiana, the son of James H. and Leah Royer

Enlisted

1 September 1942 as a Private in the Air Corps, Patterson Field, Fairfield, Ohio

Other

survived the crash

15 October 1944 of badly-damaged B-24 #41-29128 at the Saint-Trond airfield, Belgium

Died

1 February 2001 Bloomington, Monroe County, Indiana
Honey Creek Township, Vigo County, Indiana
Terre Haute, Vigo County, Indiana

Buried

James Royer rests at the Valhalla Memorial Gardens, Bloomington, Monroe County, Indiana

Revisions

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

NARA WWII Enlistment records
US Census 1930
VA Grave Locator

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / www.446bg.com/