James R Burns

Military ROLL OF HONOUR
media-19985.jpeg UPL 19985 303rd BG 358th BS Lead Crew Dec 20 1943, Sky Wolf #41-24562

Back row, left to right:
Maj G.F. Shumake (CP),
Capt D. Gamble (P),
1Lt W.D. McSween (N),
1Lt W.T. Sweet (B),
2Lt J.R. Burns (TG-O)

Front row, left to right:
S/Sgt N. Vaughn (WG),
T/Sgt R.J. McGuire (R),
S/Sgt C.S. Schmeltzer (WG),
S/Sgt R.G. Scharch (BT),
T/Sgt C.E. Wagner (E) 303rd Bomb Group collection

ID of each airman from http://www.303rdbg.com/lc090.html

Object Number - UPL 19985 - 303rd BG 358th BS Lead Crew Dec 20 1943, Sky Wolf #41-24562 Back row, left to right: Maj G.F. Shumake (CP), Capt D. Gamble (P), 1Lt W.D....

Assigned to 385BS, 303BG, 8AF USAAF. Shot down by fighters prior to the IP and crashed WSW of Dinant, Belgium on a mission to Frankfurt am Main, GR on 2 Mar 1944 in B-17G 42-97509 'Old Hickory'. Killed in Action (KIA). MACR 2864



MACR indicates that despite baling out successfully, he was found with parachute undeployed.



Awards: AM (OLC), PH.

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

Official emblem of the 303rd Bomb Group approved 7 November 1942.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 35304195
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Old Hickory
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Enlisted

Grand Rapids, MI 6 April 1942

Died

14 miles SW Dinant, Belgium 2 March 1944 Failed to Return (FTR) Frankfurt am Main in B-17 42-97509; A/C crashed 14 miles SW Dinant, Belgium. MACR 2864

Buried

Florennes, Belgium 4 March 1944 Interred Florennes cemetery Grave 28

Born

Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA Son of Wilbur Maurice Burns.

Buried

Re-Interred Ardennes American Cemetery and Memorial Plot D Row 25 Grave 5

Based

Molesworth 2 March 1944 Assigned to 385BS, 303BG, 8AF USAAF.
Grand Rapids, MI Husband of Jane Wagner Burns.

Revisions

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 2864 / MACR 2864, Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

James R Burns: Gallery (3 items)