James Edward “Jimmy”Peoples
James Peoples sailed from Boston, Massachusetts on 29 July 1942 as a passenger on the U.S.S. Pontiac. He was a passenger on the on the U.S.S. Vulcan (AR5) on 21 November 1942. He was transferred to NOB Iceland FFT VP84 for duty on 18 November 1942.
At 1930, 11 June 1943, a U.S. Navy Patrol Plane piloted by Lieutenant (jg) Douglas Selby Vieira, A-V(N), crashed in the water while making a gallant attempt to rescue the crew of an R.A.F. fortress shot down by an enemy submarine. The aircraft was on a search mission for these survivors. Lieutenant Vieira and Lieutenant Bodinet made the landing while the rest of the crew manned their assigned positions. Lieutenant Vieira and Lieutenant Bodinet swam from the cockpit door and thus hasten the plane’s sinking. Because the plane seemed to be going down rapidly all men hastened to leave the ship in spite of the rough water and they were unable to take water or flares with them. Under the effects of cold, sickness, salt water and injuries, one by one, the men died, until on 17 June 1943, Pelletier, Lionel Frederick, ARM1c, was recovered alive with the body of Chaney, Oscar Alvin, AOM3c. Pelletier will recover but will not be able to continue on active duty.
Crew members
Pilot, Lieutenant (jg) Douglas Selby Vieira
Pilot, Lieutenant (jg) Phillip Ambrose Bodinet
Navigator, Lieutenant (jg) Frank Kleinbrink
Plane Captain, ACMM Fred Andrew Cernek
2nd Mechanic, AMM1c Luther William Provow
2nd Radio, ARM2c James Edward Peoples
Air Bomber, ARM3c Charles Hopkins Baker
Air Gunner, AOM3c Oscar Alvin Chaney
James E. Peoples drowned in the Atlantic Ocean. He is memorialized at the Cambridge American Cemetery, Cambridge, England. He has a memorial stone in Happy Valley Memorial Park, Elizabethton, TN.
Father: Mr. Lon Edward Peoples, 609 Range Street, Elizabethton, TN
Photo courtesy: Claudia
- Rank: Aviation Radioman Third Class
- Date of birth: 30 July 1923
- Date of death: 14 June 1943
- County: Carter
- Hometown: Elizabethton
- Service Branch: Navy
- Division/Assignment: Patrol Squadron 84
- Theater: Europe
- Conflict: World War II
- Awards: Air Medal
- Burial/Memorial Location: Cambridge American Cemetery, Cambridge, England
- Location In Memorial: Pillar VII, Bottom Panel
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