World War II Honoree

James L. Whited

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Norman, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

ENTERED MILITARY SERVICE ON DECEMBER 17, 1941. HIS B-24 ‘LIBERATOR’ BOMBER GROUP DEPLOYED TO KUNMING AIRPORT, CHINA IN MARCH, 1943, AND SERVED AS THE HEAVY BOMBARDMENT ARM OF THE 14TH AIR FORCE. SERVED OVERSEAS IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER, IN THE CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) AREA, WITH THE 308TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP (HEAVY), 14TH AIR FORCE. HIS GROUP PARTICIPATED IN THE CHINA DEFENSIVE, NEW GUINEA, WESTERN PACIFIC, AND CHINA OFFENSIVE CAMPAIGNS. FROM ITS MAIN BASES IN CHINA, AT KUNMING AND LATER HSINCHING AIRFIELD, THE GROUP CARRIED OUT LONG RANGE STRATEGIC BOMBARDMENT OF ENEMY TARGETS IN CHINA IN SUPPORT OF CHINESE GROUND FORCES. THE GROUP ATTACKED AIRFIELDS, COALYARDS, DOCKS, OIL REFINERIES, AND FUEL DUMPS IN FRENCH INDOCHINA; MINED RIVERS AND PORTS; BOMBED DOCKS AT RANGOON; AND ATTACKED JAPANESE SHIPPING IN THE EAST CHINA SEA, FORMOSA STRAIT, SOUTH CHINA SEA, AND GULF OF TONKIN. THE GROUP RECEIVED A DISTINGUISHED UNIT CITATION (DUC) FOR AN UNESCORTED BOMBING ATTACK, CONDUCTED THROUGH ANTIAIRCRAFT FIRE AND FIGHTER DEFENSES, AGAINST DOCKS AND WAREHOUSES AT HANKOWON, CHINA ON AUGUST 21, 1943. THE GROUP RECEIVED A SECOND DUC FOR INTERDICTION OF JAPANESE SHIPPING DURING 1944–1945. THE GROUP MOVED TO RUSPI AIRFIELD IN INDIA IN JUNE, 1945, AND FERRIED GASOLINE AND SUPPLIES OVER THE HIMALAYAN MOUNTAINS (THE HUMP) UNTIL THE JAPANESE CAPITULATION IN AUGUST, 1945. AWARDED THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 3 BRONZE SERVICE STARS, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. AUTHORIZED THE PRESIDENTIAL (DISTINGUISHED) UNIT CITATION WITH BRONZE OAK LEAF CLUSTER FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM IN ACTION BY HIS UNIT IN CHINA, AND AGAIN AGAINST JAPANESE SHIPPING. HONORABLY DISCHARGED IN SEPTEMBER, 1945 AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON. RE-ENLISTED AND CONTINUED IN U.S. AIR FORCE RESERVE SERVICE AFTER THE WAR UNTIL MAJOR WHITED WAS KILLED IN ACTION.