World War II Honoree
World War II Veteran
James Andrew Cunningham
Branch of Service
U.S. Army Air Force
Hometown
Indianapolis, Indiana
Honored By
The Cunningham Family
SERVED IN THE FIFTH AIR FORCE, 56TH TROOP CARRIER SQUADRON, 37TH GROUP FLYING C-46 AND C-47 TWIN-ENGINE AIRCRAFT. FLEW 10 COMBAT MISSIONS IN ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS. WAS STATIONED IN THE NORTHERN SOLOMONS, BISMARK ARCHIPELAGO, SOUTHERN PHILIPPINES (LUZON), RYUKYUS ISLANDS, AND JAPAN. WAS AWARDED 7 BATTLE STARS FROM ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS, THE AIR MEDAL, AND THE PHILIPPINE LIBERATION AWARD. WAS ONE OF THE FIRST AMERICAN PILOTS TO LAND ON MAINLAND OF JAPAN, IN TOYKO, FOLLOWING THE JAPANESE SURRENDER. ENTERED INTO ACTIVE SERVICE ON MAY 3, 1944 AND WAS SEPARATED FROM DUTY ON JANUARY 15, 1946