James Jackson Ault Jr. was born on October 1, 1922, in Charleston, Kanawha County, West Virginia. He was the son of James Jackson Ault Sr. and Edith Marie Greene Ault. He was employed at General Machinery Corp. before enlisting in the service. He served in the 603rd Bomber Squadron, 398th Bomb Group, Heavy, as a Staff Sergeant and Ball Turret Gunner of B-17 #42-107138 nicknamed ''Witka Tanka Ton'' during World War II.

On November 21, 1944, the Witka Tanka Ton was shot down by flak during a bombing mission over Merseburg, Germany. The aircraft, which had been based in Nuthampstead, England since April 1944, crashed near Hildburghausen, Germany. Of the ten crew members aboard, seven were killed in action.

SSgt Ault was among those who lost their lives in the crash and is now buried in the Cunningham Memorial Park, Saint Albans, Kanawha County, West Virginia, USA. James J. Ault's name is inscribed on the Anstey Window Memorial in Panel 3 (right), on Butterfly 28, in the top right wing (section B).

Source of information: B-17flyingfortress.de, www.americanairmuseum.com, www.398th.org