World War II Honoree
Killed in World War II
James Abernathy, Jr.
Branch of Service
U.S. Army Air Force
Hometown
Ross County, Ohio
Honored By
Sam E. Pennartz
ENLISTED IN THE ARMY AIR CORPS ON 19 MAY 1942 AT PATTERSON FIELD NEAR FAIRFIELD, OHIO. UNDERWENT B-29 AIRCRAFT OPERATIONAL TRAINING AT PRATT ARMY AIR FIELD, KANSAS. DEPLOYED VIA AFRICA TO THE CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATRE AND WAS ASSIGNED TO 20TH AIR FORCE, XX BOMBER COMMAND, 58TH BOMB WING, 40TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP (VERY HEAVY), 25TH BOMB SQUADRON STATIONED AT CHAKULIA AIRFIELD IN THE BENGAL PROVINCE OF INDIA. AS PART OF OPERATION MATTERHORN TO BOMB JAPAN, HIS B-29 AIRCRAFT FLEW OVER THE HIMALAYAN MOUNTAIN RANGE AND LOGISTICALLY STAGED A BOMBING MISSION THROUGH HSINCHING AIRFIELD (A-1) NEAR CHENGDU, CHINA. ON 20 AUGUST 1944, HE FLEW IN THE RIGHT SEAT AS A PILOT ABOARD A BOEING B-29 SUPERFORTRESS (SERIAL # 42-6301). IT WAS ONE OF 75 AIRCRAFT LAUNCHED IN A MULTI-GROUP FORMATION TO BOMBARD THE IMPERIAL IRON AND STEEL WORKS AT YAWATA, JAPAN. ON THE RETURN ROUTE A RADAR ERROR SENT THE AIRCRAFT OFF COURSE, AND HE WAS KILLED WHEN THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED IN THE MOUNTAINS NEAR KUNLIEN, CHINA.