James Alexander Murrian Jr. was the son of James Alexander Murrian Sr. and Halcy Margaret Malinda Hammond. Brother of William B. Murrian, Weston F. Murrian, Margaret H. Murrian, Jack Murrian, and Halcy M. Murrian. He was a graduate of Knoxville High School and enlisted on March 30, 1942, in Camp Forrest, TN.
He Died non Battle.
Aircraft B-17G with serial number 42-31512 was on a slow time engine mission. The pilot was cleared on local test flight, purpose of the test was #1 engine slow time. Approximately one hour later, the aircraft crashed and burned in the vicinity of the airfield and the ten crew members were fatally injured. The investigating committee points out that there is every indication that the pilot was buzzing in the vicinity of the crash, having made several passes at the airfield. During the third pass, the tail assembly struck a tree and caused the airplane to become uncontrollable. The pilot and co-pilots medical records show that there was not evidence of flying fatigue or physical disability previous to the accident.
The pilot was flying too low and the tail assembly of the aircraft hit a tree and caused the aircraft to crash at Elmtree Farm, Grundisburgh, Suffolk in England, Market Park Field.
Crew members
Pilot, 1st Lt Jack C. Fleck
Co-Pilot, 2nd Lt Nils H. Odstrom
Navigator, 2nd Lt William J. Kleintank
Bombardier, 2nd Lt William M. Alford
Bombardier, 2nd Lt John T. St. Williams
Tail Turret Gunner, S/Sgt Alvin Rosenberg
Radio Operator, S/Sgt Raymond W. Conoway
Ball Turret Gunner, Sgt Alexander D. Mackay
Tail Gunner, S/Sgt James A. Murrian
Engineer, M/Sgt James M. Burton
Photo courtesy; Jala Harris
- Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Date of birth: 16 February 1917
- Date of death: 2 June 1944
- County: Knox
- Hometown: Knoxville
- Service Branch: Army/Army Air Forces
- Division/Assignment: 30th Station Complement Squadron
- Theater: Europe
- Conflict: World War II
- Awards: Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters
- Burial/Memorial Location: Cambridge American Cemetery, Cambridge, England
- Location In Memorial: Pillar VIII, Top Panel
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