James Eugene Hoffman was born on February 6, 1921. He resided in the District Of Columbia prior to the war. He enlisted in the Army on July 28, 1942 at Fort Myer, Virginia. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being employed in printing and also as Married. James served as a Staff Sergeant and Asst. Radio Operator / Gunner on B-24J #42-73430, 373rd Bomber Squadron, 308th Bomber Group, Heavy, U.S. Army Air Force during World War II.

B-24J #42-73430 took off, with a crew of 11, from Luichow, China on a sea sweep mission over the south China Sea. Over Japanese Shipping they were believed to have been hit by anti-aircraft fire causing them to crash into the sea. The entire crew was lost. James was declared "Missing In Action" on this mission during the war. His name is commemorated on the Walls of the Missing, Manila American Cemetery, Taguig City, Philippines. He also has a cenotaph located in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia and Chestnut Grove Cemetery, Herndon, Fairfax County, Virginia.

James was one of over 2000 Americans who lost their lives defending China from their Japanese invaders from 1941-1945. He is commemorated on the The Monument to the Aviation Martyrs in the War of Resistance Against Japan in Nanjing, China.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.abmc.gov