World War II Honoree

James E. Harrison

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Texarkana, Texas

Honored By

Margaret E. Harrison, Jeanette, Michael & James, Jr.

Relationship

Wife, Daughter & Sons

HE WAS A ‘TUSKEGEE AIRMAN’. SERVED IN THE FAR EAST WITH THE OCCUPATION FORCES WHEN ALL HOSTILITIES HAD SEIZED WITH THE JAPANESE ARMED FORCES IN KOREA AND JAPAN. AS AVIATION CADET HE COMPLETED HIS PRIMARY PHASE OF FLIGHT TRAINING AT MOTON FIELD ALABAMA AND THEN TRANSFERRED TO TUSKEGEE ARMY AIRFIELD ALABAMA FOR HIS BASIC AND ADVANCED FLIGHT TRAINING. HIS TRANSITION FLIGHT TRAINING TO COMBAT TYPE AIRCRAFT, THE P-40 ‘WARHAWK’ FIGHTER WAS COMPLETED AT VARIOUS ARMY AIRFIELDS, WITH AIR TO GROUND AND AIR TO AIR GUNNERY TRAINING AT MACDILL ARMY AIRFIELD, TAMPA, FLORIDA. UPON GRADUATION FROM ADVANCED, HE RECEIVED HIS PILOT WINGS AND COMMISSION WITH THE RANK OF 2ND LIEUTENANT. WHILE SERVING WITH THE OCCUPATION FORCES HE WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS AS OFFICER-IN-CHARGE OF THE CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF ENLISTED PERSONNEL AND OFFICERS' HOUSING. ALSO FERRIED SINGLE AND MULTI-ENGINE AIRCRAFT TO VARIOUS AIRFIELDS, FLYING OUT OF GIFU, JAPAN. AFTER THE WAR HE CONTINUED TO SERVE HIS COUNTRY FOR 20 YEARS.