World War II Honoree

James A. Murphy

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Midway, Kentucky

Honored By

Robert J. Peterson

Relationship

Crew mate

ENLISTED IN THE ARMY AIR CORPS ON JANUARY 31, 1942. SERVED AS A CO-PILOT IN THE 8TH AIR FORCE, 2ND AIR DIVISION, 445TH BOMB GROUP, 700TH SQUADRON ON A B-24 LIBERATOR, TAIL NUMBER 42-100374. HE WAS NOT FLYING WITH THAT AIR CREW ON FEBRUARY 24, 1944, THE DAY THEY WERE SHOT DOWN. ON MARCH 6, 1944, 11 DAYS AFTER HIS OLD CREW MATES WERE SHOT DOWN OVER GOTHA, HE FLEW AS THE CO-PILOT OF 'BALLS OF FIRE' (TAIL NUMBER 42-109796), ANOTHER B-24 FROM THE 700TH BOMB SQUADRON. THE TARGET THAT DAY WAS BERLIN, THE FIRST TIME THAT THE 445TH BOMB GROUP PARTICIPATED IN AN ATTACK ON HITLER'S CAPITAL CITY. HIS PLANE WAS ONE OF THOSE SHOT DOWN DURING THE ATTACK. HE SURVIVED THE CRASH AND WAS HELD AT STALAG LUFT 1 IN BARTH, GERMANY IN THE NORTH 1 COMPOUND UNTIL LIBERATION.