Jim, from a large and loving family, was raised among the fruit tree groves of Orange County, California. After graduating Anaheim Union High School in 1942, he first entered a U.S. Army meteorological program, before switching to flight training.
Upon his commissioning and completion of training, he served in 1945 as a radar navigator aboard B-29 bombers flying from Tinian Island over the Japanese homeland. He flew nine combat missions, then two others for which he received mission credit:
"One was a prisoner supply mission. We flew a supply mission to one of the prisoner of war camps. We went in at 500 feet. They had put cargo pallets in the bomb bays and we dropped some coffee and canned fruit and things. I hoped it didn't hit anybody, but you never knew. But it was a gesture for the prisoners of war, of which there were really quite a few. And then we flew one more mission for which we got combat credit, which was September the 2nd [1945]. The Air Force flew what they called a 'Power Display Mission.' I heard various numbers – 500 or 700 B-29s. So we flew up all these aircraft, forming out there over the Pacific in formation, and we flew south over Tokyo Harbor in formation at 3,000 feet the day they were signing the armistice in case Hirohito had any second thoughts about this." (Interview with JDB, August 2006).
Jim was recalled to service in Korea in 1951, eventually flying 43 combat missions aboard B-26 Marauder bombers. He left the service with the rank of Captain.
He graduated Pomona College in 1947, and met Carolyn Maurer on a blind date in 1948; they married on 6 June of that year. They raised three children while Jim pursued a career first in teaching, then in the sale of scientific instruments. He and Carolyn also were active in various justice and world peace initiatives.
He is greatly missed.
Upon his commissioning and completion of training, he served in 1945 as a radar navigator aboard B-29 bombers flying from Tinian Island over the Japanese homeland. He flew nine combat missions, then two others for which he received mission credit:
"One was a prisoner supply mission. We flew a supply mission to one of the prisoner of war camps. We went in at 500 feet. They had put cargo pallets in the bomb bays and we dropped some coffee and canned fruit and things. I hoped it didn't hit anybody, but you never knew. But it was a gesture for the prisoners of war, of which there were really quite a few. And then we flew one more mission for which we got combat credit, which was September the 2nd [1945]. The Air Force flew what they called a 'Power Display Mission.' I heard various numbers – 500 or 700 B-29s. So we flew up all these aircraft, forming out there over the Pacific in formation, and we flew south over Tokyo Harbor in formation at 3,000 feet the day they were signing the armistice in case Hirohito had any second thoughts about this." (Interview with JDB, August 2006).
Jim was recalled to service in Korea in 1951, eventually flying 43 combat missions aboard B-26 Marauder bombers. He left the service with the rank of Captain.
He graduated Pomona College in 1947, and met Carolyn Maurer on a blind date in 1948; they married on 6 June of that year. They raised three children while Jim pursued a career first in teaching, then in the sale of scientific instruments. He and Carolyn also were active in various justice and world peace initiatives.
He is greatly missed.
Jim, from a large and loving family, was raised among the fruit tree groves of Orange County, California. After graduating Anaheim Union High School in 1942, he first entered a U.S. Army meteorological program, before switching to flight training.
Upon his commissioning and completion of training, he served in 1945 as a radar navigator aboard B-29 bombers flying from Tinian Island over the Japanese homeland. He flew nine combat missions, then two others for which he received mission credit:
"One was a prisoner supply mission. We flew a supply mission to one of the prisoner of war camps. We went in at 500 feet. They had put cargo pallets in the bomb bays and we dropped some coffee and canned fruit and things. I hoped it didn't hit anybody, but you never knew. But it was a gesture for the prisoners of war, of which there were really quite a few. And then we flew one more mission for which we got combat credit, which was September the 2nd [1945]. The Air Force flew what they called a 'Power Display Mission.' I heard various numbers – 500 or 700 B-29s. So we flew up all these aircraft, forming out there over the Pacific in formation, and we flew south over Tokyo Harbor in formation at 3,000 feet the day they were signing the armistice in case Hirohito had any second thoughts about this." (Interview with JDB, August 2006).
Jim was recalled to service in Korea in 1951, eventually flying 43 combat missions aboard B-26 Marauder bombers. He left the service with the rank of Captain.
He graduated Pomona College in 1947, and met Carolyn Maurer on a blind date in 1948; they married on 6 June of that year. They raised three children while Jim pursued a career first in teaching, then in the sale of scientific instruments. He and Carolyn also were active in various justice and world peace initiatives.
He is greatly missed.
Upon his commissioning and completion of training, he served in 1945 as a radar navigator aboard B-29 bombers flying from Tinian Island over the Japanese homeland. He flew nine combat missions, then two others for which he received mission credit:
"One was a prisoner supply mission. We flew a supply mission to one of the prisoner of war camps. We went in at 500 feet. They had put cargo pallets in the bomb bays and we dropped some coffee and canned fruit and things. I hoped it didn't hit anybody, but you never knew. But it was a gesture for the prisoners of war, of which there were really quite a few. And then we flew one more mission for which we got combat credit, which was September the 2nd [1945]. The Air Force flew what they called a 'Power Display Mission.' I heard various numbers – 500 or 700 B-29s. So we flew up all these aircraft, forming out there over the Pacific in formation, and we flew south over Tokyo Harbor in formation at 3,000 feet the day they were signing the armistice in case Hirohito had any second thoughts about this." (Interview with JDB, August 2006).
Jim was recalled to service in Korea in 1951, eventually flying 43 combat missions aboard B-26 Marauder bombers. He left the service with the rank of Captain.
He graduated Pomona College in 1947, and met Carolyn Maurer on a blind date in 1948; they married on 6 June of that year. They raised three children while Jim pursued a career first in teaching, then in the sale of scientific instruments. He and Carolyn also were active in various justice and world peace initiatives.
He is greatly missed.
