James David Vaughn was born on January 12, 1924 in Coke County, Texas. He was the son of Homer E. Vaughn and Edith Brunson Vaughn. He resided in Coke County, Texas prior to the war. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps on December 3, 1942 in San Antonio, Texas. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being employed as a Sales clerk and also as Single, without dependents. He was married sometime after his enlistment. James served as a Technical Sergeant and Radio Operator / Gunner on B-24J #44-40826, 425th Bomber Squadron, 308th Bomber Group, Heavy, U.S. Army Air Force during World War II.

B-24J #44-40826 took off, with a crew of 11, from Kunming, China on a sea sweep mission over the China Sea and the Formosa Straits. After takeoff they were not heard from nor seen again and are believed to have crashed at sea on December 18, 1944. Having actually gone "Missing" on the above date, he was not officially declared by the military as being dead until December 19, 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. He also has a cenotaph located in Fairview Cemetery, Bronte, Coke County, Texas.

Tsgt Vaugh 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