World War II Honoree

James Colimore

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Lutherville, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Friends of American Heroes

He proudly served his country as a 2nd Lieutenant and glider pilot in the U.S. Army Air Forces during WWII. He participated in the D-Day Invasion on June 6, 1944, as a member of the 88th Squadron, 438th Troop Carrier Group flying a CG4 Waco glider. The gliders he flew carried anti-tank guns, jeeps and hundreds of troops intended to prevent the enemy from reinforcing their beach defenses. After hitting the release switch from the C-147 tow plane and avoiding enemy machine gun fire he landed in a field at Ste.-Mere-Eglise. After landing the Germans sent up flares trying to locate him and others and fired machine gun bursts but never attempted to charge his position. He and others tried to help some of the wounded and injured airborne troops. By June 9th, after a 12 mile march through sniper infested areas, he reached Utah Beach while being strafed by German fighter planes. He waded and swam out to a landing craft that took him to a ship headed for England.