World War II Honoree
Killed in World War II
James J. Farrell
Branch of Service
U.S. Army
Hometown
Blair County, Pennsylvania
Honored By
Orville L. Kline
RANK: PRIVATE. INDUCTED INTO THE ARMY OCTOBER 2, 1942 AT ALTOONA, PENNSYLVANIA. HE WAS A PARATROOPER, WHO SERVED WITH I-COMPANY, 3RD BATTALION, 506TH PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT, 101ST AIRBORNE ‘SCREAMING EAGLES’ DIVISION. KILLED IN ACTION IN THE DARK, EARLY MORNING HOURS, 01:40 ON D-DAY, TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 1944 DURING THE BATTLE OF NORMANDY, THE INVASION OF GERMANY’S FORTRESS EUROPE, CODE NAME: OPERATION OVERLORD. HE DIED ALONG WITH 17 OTHER PARATROOPERS AND 4 ARMY AIR CORPS CREWMEMBERS WHEN HIS C-47 ‘SKYTRAIN’ TROOP CARRIER AIRCRAFT WAS SHOT DOWN BY GERMAN MACHINE GUN FIRE AND ARTILLERY FLAK AS IT APPROACHED DROP ZONE-D LOCATED AT ANGOVILLE-AU-PLAIN. IT CRASHED NEAR MAGNEVILLE, NORTH OF ORGLANDES ON THE FRENCH COTENTIN PENINSULA. HE IS BURIED IN THE NORMANDY AMERICAN CEMETERY LOCATED AT COLLEVILLE-SUR-MER, FRANCE. DECORATIONS AND MEDALS: AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART.