World War II Honoree

James J. Hamblin

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Essex County, New Jersey

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: 1ST LIEUTENANT. INDUCTED INTO THE ARMY AIR CORPS APRIL 1, 1942 AT NEWARK, NEW JERSEY. HE WAS A C-47 ‘SKYTRAIN’ TROOP TRANSPORT PILOT ASSIGNED TO THE 77TH TROOP CARRIER SQUADRON, 435 TROOP CARRIER GROUP, 53RD TROOP CARRIER WING, 9TH TROOP CARRIER COMMAND. KILLED IN ACTION ON D-DAY, TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 1944 IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS DURING THE BATTLE OF NORMANDY, THE INVASION OF GERMANY’S FORTRESS EUROPE, OPERATION OVERLORD. HE DIED ALONG WITH 3 OTHER AIRCREW MEN AND 17 PARACHUTISTS WHEN HIS AIRCRAFT EXPLODED IN MIDAIR AFTER ENCOUNTERING HEAVY ARTILLERY FLAK WHILE APPROACHING THE 501ST PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT, COMPANY-G’S DESIGNATED DROP ZONE IN THE PICAUVILLE AREA ON THE FRENCH COTENTIN PENINSULA. AFTER THE CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES, HIS REMAINS WERE RETURNED TO NEW JERSEY FOR BURIAL, WITH INTERMENT IN A PRIVATE CEMETERY.