David Johnson Chambliss was born at Lookout Mountain, Tennessee, the son of John Alexander Chambliss and Margaret Moore Sizer. He married Janet Angell in September 1943 in London.
1st Lieutenant Chambliss US Army Air Forces was assigned to Headquarters, 2nd Bomber Division Heavy.
He died non-battle on 25 November 1943, and is interred at F,5,50, Cambridge American Cemetery, Cambridge, England.
The Chattanooga Daily Times, 16 December 1943
First Lt. David Johnson Chambliss, son of Squire and Mrs. John A. Chambliss of Lookout Mountain, “died in the European theater” of the war Nov. 25, it was stated in an official message received by his family last night from Jam.-Gen. James A. Ulio, the adjutant general of the Army.
Maj. Gen. Ulio’s message was first news the familynhad received that Lt. Chambliss had died. “The secretary of war desires that I tender his deep sympathy to you in the loss of your son, First Lt. David J. Chambliss.” Maj.-Gen. Ulio’s telegram stated. “Reports received states that he died on 25 Nov. 1943 in the European theater. Letter follows.”
Except for the statement contained in the adjutant general’s telegram, the Chambliss family had no detail as to the fate of Lt. Chambliss. The message did not state whether he was killed in action, whether it resulted from natural causes or just where his death occurred. He was in the air intelligence section of the army air forces and in that capacity he probably traveled in war planes. Lt. Chambliss’ death occurred on Thanksgiving Day. He is a grandson of Associate Justice Alexander W. Chambliss of the Tennessee supreme court. Lt. Chambliss left Vanderbilt University Law College in July of 1941 to enlist in the army. He was assigned to the army air corps and rose to a commissioned officer from the ranks. He took his training at Randolph Field, at Miami, Tampa and Harrisburg, Pa. He was sent to England last May and apparently had been stationed in London. At least, while visiting in Londen he met Miss Janet Angell, daughter of Mrs. I. Angell, in London and was married to her last Sept. 20. The announcement of his and Miss Angell’s engagement was published in the Chattanooga Times Sept. 5 and 15 days later they were married.
Mrs. Chambliss’ apartment in London was bombed during an air raid and she had been forced out of her London home. Members of Lt. Chambliss’ family said last night they understood that she now resided near Norwich, England. She is engaged in war work in England. A native of Lookout Mountain, Lt. Chambliss was educated at the Webb School at Bellbuckle, Tenn., and at the Haverford College in Pennsylvania. He interrupted his legal education at Vanderbilt to enter the army. One of his brothers, First Lt. Robert Chambliss arrived home Tuesday night for a Christmas leave from his station in Kansas. He too, was a volunteer in the army and rose from the ranks to a commissioned officer. A third brother, Sizer Chambliss, enlisted in the navy, but was discharged later for physical disabilities. The fourth brother, Jac, an attorney, is now on the call list for induction in the army.
Lt. Chambliss’ father and grandfather have long been active in the public affairs of Chattanooga and Tennessee. Justice Chambliss served several terms as mayor of Chattanooga and has been a member of the state supreme court for 20 years. Lt. Chambliss’ father served a term in the Tennessee senate and now represents Lookout Mountain in the quarterly county court of Hamilton County. His mother also came from a family which has been active in the professional and civic life of Chattanooga. She was Miss Margaret Sizer before her marriage, and her father, the late J.B. Sizer, for many years was among the leading member of the Chattanooga bar. Besides his parents, brothers and grandfather, Lt. Chambliss is survived by his wife and two sister, Mrs. J.B. Irvine Jr. of Nashville, the former Miss Susan Chambliss, and Miss Margaret Chambliss of Lookout Mountain.
Groupphoto below of the Haverford College in Pennsylvania yearbook 1940. (Lt. Chambliss is standing far right)
- Rank: First Lieutenant
- Date of birth: 27 July 1919
- Date of death: 25 November 1943
- County: Hamilton
- Hometown: Lookout Mountain
- Service Branch: Army/Army Air Forces
- Division/Assignment: Headquarters, 2nd Bomber Division, Heavy
- Theater: Europe
- Conflict: World War II
- Burial/Memorial Location: Cambridge American Cemetery, Cambridge, England
- Location In Memorial: Pillar XI, Top Panel
- Sponsored by: Peter Irvine
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