James T. O'Donnell was born in New York. He resided at 27 Oatka Avenue, Mumford, Monroe County, New York prior to the war. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps on December 30, 1941 in Rochester, New York. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being employed as a Machinist and also as Single, without dependents. James served as a Technical Sergeant and Engineer on B-24J #42-100267, 375th Bomber Squadron, 308th Bomber Group, Heavy, U.S. Army Air Force during World War II.

B-24J #42-100267 took off from Chengkung, China on a shipping strike. While returning to base two engines, which had been damaged by anti-aircraft fire near Kunming, China, became disabled. Four of the crew bailed out and the remaining crew stayed on the B-24 which eventually crash landed at the base on return. James, who had bailed out, was declared "Missing In Action" on November 21, 1944 on this mission during the war. Having actually gone "Missing" on the above date, he was not officially declared by the military as being dead until November 22, 1945, 1 year and 1 day after he went missing as was the custom. His name is commemorated on the Walls of the Missing, Manila American Cemetery, Taguig City, Philippines.

Tsgt O'Donnell was one of over 2000 Americans who lost their lives defending China from their Japanese invaders from 1941-1945. He is also 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