James Day Pemberton was born at Lumberton, North Carolina, the son of Roy Beacher Pemberton and Ella Day.
He died 22 September 1944 in Germany

Sergeant, 456th Bomber Group, 74th Bomber Squadron

On 22 September 1944 aircraft B-24G, serialnumber 42-78407 departed from Stornara Field in Italy on a bombing mission to Munich/Riem A/D in Germany. The plane crashed near Otterfing near Helskirchen.
Statement from Leo W. Rice, 2nd Lt, Air Corps I was flying as co-pilot on plane #418, in Charley 1. At approximately 1211, I saw Lt Tawes´plane, #407, low under Baker box and turning to the right slowly. The plane appeared under control and no engines were feathered. About a minute later, he was to the right of Baker box and about , 5,000 feet below the formation. At that time I saw his #2 engine catch on fire, but it was seen to go out soon after. He was losing altitude rapidly. When he was at 10,000 feet, he made two or three vertical reverses in quick succession. Immediately afterwards I saw one, definitely, and possibly two chutes open. Seconds afterwards, the plane nosed down, steeply and crashed into a patch of woods. The time of the crash was approximately 1213, and in the immediate target area.

Crewmembers
Pilot, 1st Lt Elton E. Tawes
Co-Pilot, 2nd Lt Marcel F. Onraet
Navigator, 2nd Lt William C. Kitchler
Bombardier, 2nd Lt Paul K. Moats
Left Waist Gunner, S/Sgt John F. Boden
Right Waist Gunner, S/Sgt Wilfred J. Giggey
Gunner, S/Sgt Jack L. Grant
Tail Turret Gunner, Sgt Harold C. Kurtz
Ball Turret Gunner, Sgt James D. Pemberton
TG, Sgt Lewis F. Fulara

2nd Lt Paul K. Moats and Sgt Lewis F. Fulara bailed out and were captured. James D. Pemberton went down with the plane, together with 7 other crewmembers. His remains were returned under WWII Dead Program and buried in a common grave with S/Sgt John F. Boden, S/Sgt Wilfred J. Giggey, S/Sgt Jack L. Grant, 2nd Lt William C. Kitchler, Sgt Harold C. Kurtz, 2nd Lt Marcel F. Onraet and 1st Lt Elton E. Tawes on 10 August 1950 at Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia.

 

  • Rank: Sergeant
  • Date of birth:
    • 8 July 1925
  • Date of death: 22 September 1944
  • County: Blount
  • Hometown: Alcoa
  • Service Branch: Army/Army Air Forces
  • Division/Assignment: 456th Bomber Group, 74th Bomber Squadron
  • Theater: Europe
  • Conflict: World War II
  • Burial/Memorial Location: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia
  • Location In Memorial: Pillar VI, Middle Panel
  • Contact us to sponsor James D. Pemberton

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