World War II Honoree
World War II Veteran
James L. Fall
Branch of Service
U.S. Army Air Force
Hometown
Rochester, Indiana
Honored By
Huntington County Veterans Service Office
2ND LIEUTENANT. SERVED AS AN AVIATION CADET JANUARY 6, 1943 UNTIL NOVEMBER 3, 1943 AND THEN ENTERED ACTIVE DUTY IN THE ARMY AIR CORPS ON NOVEMBER 3, 1943. SERVED UNTIL DECEMBER 16, 1945, PRIMARILY WITH THE 391ST FIGHTER SQUADRON, 366TH FIGHTER GROUP, FLYING 21 COMBAT MISSIONS AND 40 OPERATIONAL SORTIES. PARTICIPATED IN THE NORMANDY CAMPAIGN AND IN AIR OFFENSIVE EUROPE. EARNED THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH TWO BRONZE SERVICE STARS, AIR MEDAL WITH THREE BRONZE OAK LEAF CLUSTERS AND THE PRISONER OF WAR MEDAL. HE WAS A P-47 THUNDERBOLT PILOT WITH HOLT'S HUN HUNTERS. ON JUNE 10, 1944, WHILE ON A GROUND SUPPORT MISSION BEHIND THE NORMANDY BEACHHEAD, HE WAS SHOT DOWN BY ENEMY GROUND FIRE. HELD AS POW AT STALAG LUFT 3 AND MOOSEBURG 7-A UNTIL APRIL 29, 1945. LIBERATED BY THE 14TH ARMORED DIVISION OF PATTON'S 3RD ARMY.