Hutchinson James Truman Sr.

Monuments

S/SGT Merton Haigh & 2LT John Fassnacht (B-24, 42-51964) Memorial

Name:

James Truman Sr. Hutchinson

Rank:

Staff Sergeant

Serial Number:

18194962

Unit:

786th Bomber Squadron, 466th Bomber Group, Heavy

Date of Death:

2010-03-02

State:

Oklahoma

Cemetery:

Riverside National Cemetery Riverside, Riverside County, California,

Plot:

Row:

Grave:

Decoration:

Comments:

James Hutchinson was born on April 23, 1925 and was from Oklahoma. He served as a Gunner on B-24 (42-51964) of the 778th Bomber Squadron, 464th Bomber Group which was based out of Pantanella Airbase in Italy.
On October 17, 1944, this plane was a mission to bomb the heavily defended city of Vienna. Over Vienna, the plane was hit and badly damaged. Two of the crew were killed in flight; the others parachuted out and all were captured except for one who died on impact. A memorial in Zohor, Slovakia remembers the plane and two crewmembers who died with the plane.
Hutchinson was taken as a POW and remained there for the rest of the war. He also served in the Vietnam war in the USAF.