James W. Strong was born in Michigan in 1920. He enlisted on Mar 21, 1942 in Seattle, Washington as a Private in the Army Air Corps. (The NARA enlistment record states he was born in Rothell, Michigan while 388th Bomb Group records indicate Rothell, Washington.) He had completed 2 years of high school and was employed as a skilled mechanic or repairman.

It is not known when he was selected for, or completed, bombardier training. Available records show he flew his first combat mission on December 5, 1943, while assigned to the 388th Bomb Group in England.

On March 23, 1944, his crew was scheduled to participate in a raid on the aircraft factories at Brunswick, Germany. On the bomb run, the aircraft was hit by flak, setting #3 engine on fire. When smoke filled the cockpit, the pilot gave the bail out signal. The forward escape hatch would not open, but it was finally forced open, and 4 of the crew bailed out. The aircraft then went into a flat, tight spin, pinning the remaining crew at their stations.

The aircraft then began to break up from G-forces, and then exploded, throwing most of the crew free. Nine of the crew survived their parachute descents, and were captured. Lt Strong was the only one killed and missing. He is remembered on the Walls of the Missing at the American Cemetery at Margraeten, Holland. He 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: www.findagrave.com, www.abmc.gov, airforce.togetherweserved.com