World War II Honoree

James A. Raley

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Henderson, Kentucky

Honored By

Ms. Maureen Raley

Relationship

Daughter

JOINED THE ARMY 13TH CALVARY IN 1936 AND SERVED IN OPERATION TORCH, THE AMPHIBIOUS INVASION OF NORTH AFRICA AS PART OF THE FIRST ARMORED DIVISION. IN 1943, HE JOINED THE AIR CORPS AND WAS ASSIGNED AS A TAIL GUNNER TO THE 301ST BOMB SQUADRON, NEAR FOGGIA, ITALY. ON HIS 13TH MISSION TO BOMB ENEMY SHIPPING ACTIVITY NEAR ATHENS, GREECE, HE WAS IN ONE OF 8 PLANES DOWNED OVER THE PELOPONNESUS. HE FELL ABOUT 20,000 FEET WITHOUT THE AID OF A PARACHUTE IN THE SEVERED TAIL SECTION OF THE B-17 AND LANDED IN A WELL-POSITIONED CLUMP OF SHRUBBERY, THE ONLY MEMBER OF HIS CREW TO SURVIVE. HE AND THE SURVIVORS FROM THE OTHER PLANES EVADED CAPTURE BY THE ENEMY FOR 3 MONTHS UNTIL THE GREEK PARTISANS AND BRITISH INTELLIGENCE ARRANGED THEIR ESCAPE FROM GREECE. FOLLOWING HIS ESCAPE, He WAS AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART, THE AIR MEDALLION WITH OAK LEAF CLUSTER, AND THE ARMY COMMENDATION MEDAL AND WAS COMMISSIONED A SECOND LIEUTENANT. HE RETIRED AFTER 29 YEARS OF MILITARY SERVICE AND SERVED HIS COUNTRY AN ADDITIONAL 16 YEARS AS A CIVIL SERVANT, A TOTAL OF 45 YEARS OF FEDERAL SERVICE.