James Arthur Lawhorn was born at Robbins, Tennessee, the son of Noah Lawhorn and Elsie Meryl Conner. He had won the silver wings of a pilot an an advanced two-engine pilot school of the AAF Training Command in June, 1944.
Buried at Ardennes American Cemetery, Neupré, Belgium, A, 13, 18
Aircraft C-47A with serial number 42-100770, nicknamed ‘Little Jo’, was on a Glider Tow mission to Eindhoven, Holland. The airplane crashed 2 miles South/East of Rethie, Belgium.
Statement from John C. Baird, First Lieutenant, AC:
Plane No. 43-15653, piloted by the undersigned took off from USAAF Station 486 at 1255 hours, 19 september, 1944, POC Field Order No. 4 HQ 438th TC Gp.
I was flying No. 3 position in the lead element and at approximately 1550 hours, while in the vicinity of Rethie, Belgium, I saw plane No. 42-100770, which was flying No. 2 position in the same element, hit by enemy flak which burst immediately below the fuselage, parallel to the leading edge of the wing. After a split second, the ship fell away slightly to the left and then nosed into a gradual dive, completing a 180 turn. The last I saw of the ship was when it was still approximately 350 to 400 feet from the ground. At that time it had nosed over into a much steeper angle of dive. Left engine was in flame from the time it was hit by flak until it disappeared from my view.
Crewmembers
Pilot, 2nd Lt Carl A. Cary
Co-Pilot, 2nd Lt James A. Lawhorn
Crew Chief, T/Sgt Richard K. Rockwall
Radio Operator, S/Sgt John D. Hines
- Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Date of birth: 5 April 1924
- Date of death: 19 September 1944
- County: Scott
- Hometown: Robbins
- Service Branch: Army/Army Air Forces
- Division/Assignment: 89th Squadron, 438th Troop Carrier Group
- Theater: Europe
- Conflict: World War II
- Awards: Air Medal, Purple Heart
- Burial/Memorial Location: Ardennes American Cemetery, Neupré (Neuville-en-Condroz), Belgium
- Location In Memorial: Pillar XVII, Middle Panel
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