World War II Honoree

James Arthur 'Jim' Momper

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Joliet, Illinois

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

SERVED AS A NAVIGATOR/RADAR OPERATOR IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN (EAME) AND AMERICAN THEATERS WITH THE 460TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP (HEAVY). ASSIGNED TO THE 15TH AIR FORCE IN THE EAME THEATER. STATIONED AT SPINAZZOLA IN ITALY, THEN AT WALLER FIELD IN TRINIDAD AND NATAL IN BRAZIL. PARTICIPATED IN THE AIR COMBAT-EAME THEATER, NORTH APENNINES, RHINELAND, CENTRAL EUROPE, PO VALLEY, AND AIR COMBAT-AMERICAN THEATER CAMPAIGNS. FLEW 28 COMBAT MISSIONS WITH HIS UNIT, ENGAGED PRIMARILY IN STRATEGIC BOMBING AND SOME INTERDICTORY AND SUPPORT MISSIONS. ON DECEMBER 16, 1944 HE WAS DESIGNATED AS SQUADRON LEAD NAVIGATOR IN THE FORMATION OF B-24 'LIBERATOR' BOMBERS ON A MISSION TO ATTACK GERMAN REFINERIES. THIS DESIGNATION WAS UNIQUE AS IT WAS ONLY HIS 4TH COMBAT MISSION. HE SUCCESSFULLY GUIDED HIS FORMATION TO THE TARGET, DROPPED BOMBS AND RETURNED TO BASE WITHOUT LOSING AN AIRCRAFT. HIS GROUP WAS REASSIGNED TO AIR TRANSPORT COMMAND IN JUNE, 1945, AFTER THE ALLIED VICTORY IN EUROPE. IT WAS BASED IN BRAZIL, TO ASSIST IN MOVING PERSONNEL FROM EUROPE TO THE U.S.A. AWARDED THE AIR MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED WITH THE RANK OF FIRST LIEUTENANT AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.