Armstrong, James Edwin

Individual Personnel Data
Name Armstrong, James Edwin   ‡
⇗
Rank Second Lieutenant / First Lieutenant
Serial Number O-794606   ‡
Unit Assignments
  • Assigned to the 546th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #42 dated 4 July 1943, effective 4 July 1943.
  • Assigned to the 546th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per 546th Bomb Squadron Morning Report dated 5 February 1944 - assigned not joined (Detached Service at Director of Intelligence, Headquarters United Stated Strategic Air Forces Europe [USSAFE]), effective 5 February 1944.
Duty Pilot
MOS1091 - Pilot, B-17
Last Duty Date 6 September 1943
Results Evaded Capture
DecorationsAwarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for Extra Achievement. Date recommended, 16 September 1943.
Awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received on 6 September 1943 per General Orders #57, Headquarters, 1st Bomb Division dated 6 April 1944.
Awarded the Air Medal for completion of 5 combat missions.
Awarded an oak leaf cluster to the Air Medal for completion of 10 combat missions.
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 3 August 1922
  • Armstrong wrote a book, titled 'Escape!', describing his wartime service, and his escape and evasion after being shot down.
Related Documents Missing Air Crew Report # 772⇓ (24.824 MB)
Escape & Evasion Report # 339⇓ (5.924 MB)
1997 Veteran's History Project Oral History Interview⇗
Photos of this Veteran signing the Wing PanelArmstrong Signing⇗
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album⇗
Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Armstrong, James EdwinPilotEV
2nd Lt. Stoner, Robert Louis⇗Co-pilotPOW
2nd Lt. Carlin, Charles Creighton⇗NavigatorPOW
2nd Lt. Heald, John (NMI)⇗BombardierEV
T/SGT. House, Walter Lafayette⇗Radio Operator / GunnerEV
T/SGT. Grinstein, Sidney C (IO)⇗Engineer / Top Turret GunnerPOW
S/SGT. Redwing, James Hardy⇗Ball Turret GunnerKIA
S/SGT. Deibert, William Orendorff⇗Tail GunnerTR
S/SGT. Herrera, Presciliano Silva⇗Flexible GunnerPOW
S/SGT. Hammock, Clifford (NMI)⇗Flexible GunnerEV
Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 11 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
-- 9 July 1943 None
Non-combat sortie 		Pilot 42‑30196⇗ Sortie Report⇗
7⇗ 10 July 1943 Target: Drucat Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Abbeville, France 		Pilot 42‑30196⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
8⇗ 14 July 1943 Target: Villacoublay Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Paris, France 		Pilot 42‑30196⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
9⇗ 24 July 1943 Target: Aluminum & Magnesium Plants
Type: Industry
Location: Herøya, Norway 		Pilot 42‑29686⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑30196.
Sortie Report⇗
10⇗ 25 July 1943 Target: Blohm & Voss Aircraft Works and Shipyard
Type: Industry
Location: Hamburg, Germany 		Pilot 42‑3259⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
11⇗ 28 July 1943 Target: Aircraft Engine Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Kassel, Germany 		Pilot 42‑30196⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
12⇗ 29 July 1943 Target: Naval Base
Type: Military
Location: Kiel, Germany 		Pilot 42‑30039⇗ Did not take off: aircraft apparently not in flying condition.
Sortie Report⇗
14⇗ 12 August 1943 Target: Synthetic Fuel Hydrogenation Plant
Type: Industry
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany 		Pilot 42‑30196⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
15⇗ 15 August 1943 Target: Poix-en-Picardie and Amiens-Glisy Airfields
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Poix-de-Picardie & Amiens, France 		Pilot 42‑30196⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
17⇗ 17 August 1943 Target: Ball-Bearing Plant
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Schweinfurt, Germany 		Pilot 42‑30196⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
18⇗ 27 August 1943 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Watten, France 		Pilot 42‑30026⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
19⇗ 31 August 1943 Target: Fighter Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Romilly-sur-Seine, France 		Pilot 42‑3455⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
21⇗ 6 September 1943 Type: Industry
Location: Stuttgart, Germany 		Pilot 41‑24507⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Failed To Return
Two bomb runs due to overcast at target; enemy aircraft and flak knocked out two engines; insufficient fuel to reach England, crashed near Étrépagny, France; MACR 772.
Sortie Report⇗

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