TSGT. James B. McCord, 16078854, was the Radio Operator of the B-29 #44-69873. Assigned to the 20th AAF, 19th Bomb Group (VH), 28th BS. Based at Guam Island, Northern Marianas. On 26 June 1945 they participated in a bombing mission of Kagamigahara, Gifu, Japan. They encountered heavy flak and enemy fighter aircraft over the target. It was witnessed that enemy Ki-61 fighters attacked head-on at 12 o'clock level One (1) of the fighters was badly damaged and trailing smoke some 500 yards behind. This plane collided with Capt. Kordus' plane head-on. His plane blew up immediately and was a mass of flame and smoke. Falling pieces and debris were scattered through the sky above Nabari. One (1) parachute appeared almost immediately after the explosion. Another chute was seen later at a much lower altitude. The man in the first chute appeared to the witness to be alive and moving. The second chute was too far away to be observed. All 11 crew were listed as Missing in Action (MIA). SSGT McCord was listed MIA/KIA. Body was recovered at the USAF Cemetery, Yokohama, Japan and reinterred 25 March 1949 at the Golden Gate National Cemetery. He was posthumously awarded the Air Medal and the Purple Heart. (MACR 14711).
TSGT. James B. McCord, 16078854, was the Radio Operator of the B-29 #44-69873. Assigned to the 20th AAF, 19th Bomb Group (VH), 28th BS. Based at Guam Island, Northern Marianas. On 26 June 1945 they participated in a bombing mission of Kagamigahara, Gifu, Japan. They encountered heavy flak and enemy fighter aircraft over the target. It was witnessed that enemy Ki-61 fighters attacked head-on at 12 o'clock level One (1) of the fighters was badly damaged and trailing smoke some 500 yards behind. This plane collided with Capt. Kordus' plane head-on. His plane blew up immediately and was a mass of flame and smoke. Falling pieces and debris were scattered through the sky above Nabari. One (1) parachute appeared almost immediately after the explosion. Another chute was seen later at a much lower altitude. The man in the first chute appeared to the witness to be alive and moving. The second chute was too far away to be observed. All 11 crew were listed as Missing in Action (MIA). SSGT McCord was listed MIA/KIA. Body was recovered at the USAF Cemetery, Yokohama, Japan and reinterred 25 March 1949 at the Golden Gate National Cemetery. He was posthumously awarded the Air Medal and the Purple Heart. (MACR 14711).
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ILLINOIS
TECH SGT
28 AAF BOMB SQ
WORLD WAR II
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