World War II Honoree

James H. Whitcomb

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Little Falls, New York

Honored By

Kip Garlock

Relationship

Family

ENTERED THE U.S. ARMY AIR CORPS 1/15/42. SERVED AS FLIGHT OFFICER FOR THE 302ND TROOP CARRIER SQUADRON, VICTORVILLE, CALIFORNIA. SERVED WITH THE 314TH TROOP CARRIER GROUP IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER. FLEW SEVERAL COMBAT MISSIONS BEHIND ENEMY LINES WITH THE 82ND, 101ST, 17TH AND 10TH AIRBORNE DIVISIONS. FLEW C-47 AND CG4A AIRCRAFT. FLEW IN THE D-DAY INVASION AS GLIDER PILOT. RECEIVED THE DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS FOR LANDING BEHIND ENEMY TERRITORY WITH A DISABLED AIRCRAFT, AS WELL AS THE AIR MEDAL WITH TWO OAK LEAF CLUSTERS FOR MISSIONS IN CHERBOURG, NORTHERN FRANCE, SOUTHERN FRANCE, HOLLAND, NORMANDY, RHINELAND, ARDENNES, CENTRAL EUROPE AND ROME-ARNO. RECEIVED THE PURPLE HEART FOR WOUNDS RECEIVED BEHIND ENEMY LINES AND WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED AS 2ND LIEUTENANT ON 12/27/45 AT FORT DIX, NEW JERSEY.