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Langley James

Name:
James Langley
Rank:
Staff Sergeant
Serial Number:
13097338
Unit:
563rd Bomber Squadron, 388th Bomber Group, Heavy
Date of Death:
1943-07-26
State:
New Jersey
Cemetery:
Plot:
Row:
Grave:
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Comments:

SSgt James Langley was born on February 22, 1922 in Wildwood Crest, New Jersey. He enlisted in the military on June 11, 1942 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and was trained as a aerial gunner. He was assigned to the crew commanded by Lt. A.M. Bobbitt of the 563rd Bomb Squadron in the 388th Bomb Group. The Group operated from Knettishall Air Station 136, England.

Sgt Langley flew on three missions before being assigned to take part in a raid on Hannover, Germany. On July 26, 1943, the 388th put up 21 aircraft. Four of these turned back for mechanical equipment failures. Flak and enemy fighters were slight as the bomber stream entered Germany, but increased at the IP. Two aircraft were shot down by flak during the bomb run. Three others were shot down by fighters on the return trip home.

German air records credit Oberleutnant Karl Becker, piloting a FW-190, as having shot down the aircraft on which SSgt Langley was serving. Several of the crew bailed out and were taken prisoner. The remaining crew members were killed either in the fighter attack or in the crash.

The aircraft crashed near Holtland, just west of Bremen, Germany. His current burial place is unknown. SSgt Langley was one of the many brave Americans of the 388th Bomber Group who lost their lives in aerial operations against the German forces from June 1943 - August 1945.

Source of information: airforce.togetherweserved.com