World War II Honoree

James Francis Greup

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Springtown, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Sam E. Pennartz

UNDERWENT B-29 AIRCRAFT OPERATIONAL TRAINING AT HARVARD ARMY AIRFIELD, NEBRASKA DURING THE SUMMER OF 1944. DEPLOYED TO THE CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATRES OF OPERATION AND ASSIGNED TO 20TH AIR FORCE, XXI BOMBER COMMAND, 313TH BOMB WING, 505TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP (VERY HEAVY), 483RD BOMB SQUADRON STATIONED AT NORTH FIELD ON TINIAN IN THE MARIANA ISLANDS. ON FEBRUARY 10, 1945, HE FLEW AS AN AERIAL GUNNER AND RADAR OPERATOR ABOARD A BOEING B-29 SUPERFORTRESS NICKNAMED 'DEANER BOY' (TAIL # 42-24815). WAS ONE OF 118 AIRCRAFT IN A FORMATION TO BOMBARD THE NAKAJIMA AIRCRAFT PLANT AT OTA, JAPAN. WHILE OVER THE TARGET AT AN ALTITUDE OF 28,000 FEET HIS AIRCRAFT SUFFERED A MID-AIR COLLISION WITH ANOTHER B-29 BOMBER, RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF BOTH AIRCRAFT AND AIRCREWS.