World War II Honoree

James Louis Powers

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

South Bend, Indiana

Honored By

Jeff Powers

Relationship

Son

From August, 1943 to October, 1945 he was a radio operator, mechanic and side gunner on a B-24 Liberator assigned to the 450th Bombardment Group (Cottontails) in Italy (211th Army Air Force, 723rd Bombardment Squadron). He flew 28 sorties over enemy territory and was frequently in harms way. One mission was the Siege of Ploiesti (Romania), the low level bombing of the largest source of refined fuel for Hitler's war machine. His plane was ditched due to flack damage and was missing in action for 2 days.