World War II Honoree

James 'Jim' Warner

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

California, California

Honored By

George Lee American Legion Post 532

HE ENROLLED IN 1941 IN A TWO YEAR COLLEGE EQUIVALENCY SCHOOL IN CALIFORNIA. HE WAS THEN ACCEPTED INTO AN AVIATION CADET PROGRAM AND SENT TO KELLY FIELD IN SANTANA, TEXAS. HE WAS THEN ASSIGNED TO WACO, TEXAS, FOR BASIC FLIGHT TRAINING. AT MOSES LAKE, WASHINGTON, HE FURTHER TRAINED AS A CO-PILOT FOR FLYING B-17 AIRCRAFT. HIS ENTIRE UNIT SHIPPED OUT TO ENGLAND AND JOINED THE 8TH AIR FORCE. THERE HE AND HIS CREW FLYING IN 'LITTLE WILLIE', A PROTOTYPE B-17G MODEL PLANE, COMPLETED 25 BOMBING MISSIONS OVER VARIOUS GERMAN TARGETS. HIS UNIT WAS ASSIGNED TO AND OPERATED UNDER A BRITISH ROYAL AIR FORCE UNIT THAT SPECIALIZED IN A TECHNIQUE IN JAMMING RADIO SIGNALS. RETURNING TO THE STATES HE ATTENDED AND GRADUATED FROM A COMMUNICATIONS SCHOOL AT SCOTT ARMY AIR FORCE BASE IN MARANA, ARIZONA. HE WAS THEN DISPATCHED TO TWO OTHER AIR FORCE BASES, ONE IN FORT MYERS, FLORIDA, AND ANOTHER IN EL PASO, TEXAS, BOTH IN THE PROCESS OF BEING CLOSED. AT EL PASO AFTER A THIRTY DAY WAITING PERIOD, HE WAS TOLD HE HAD A CHOICE TO GET OUT OF THE SERVICE OR GO TO JAPAN. HE TOOK A DISCHARGE BUT STAYED IN THE RESERVES. RETURNING TO VIRGINIA HE QUALIFIED FOR A FLIGHT INSTRUCTORS RATING. SHORTLY HE WAS CALLED BACK TO ACTIVE DUTY AS A FOUR ENGINE PILOT, AND AGAIN DEPLOYED TO GERMANY. AT SEMBACH AIR BASE HIS SQUADRON PROVIDED COMMUNICATIONS DURING THE CRISIS OVER THE BERLIN WALL. HE WAS THE CHIEF COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER FOR HIS SQUADRON. HE SERVED THIRTY ONE YEARS IN THE AIR FORCE BEFORE RETIRING. THE MEDALS HE RECEIVED INCLUDED THE LEGION OF MERIT, DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS, SOLDIERS MEDAL, AIR MEDAL, BRONZE STAR AND UNIT COMMAND MEDAL.