James Martin Brant was born on September 15, 1921, in Somerset, Somerset County, Pennsylvania. He was the son of Charles Brant and Mabel Gladys Hoover Cappo. He worked in a foundry before enlisting in the Army on October 28, 1942. He served in the 715th Bomber Squadron, 448th Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Technical Sergeant and Top Turret Gunner on B-24H #42-64444 nicknamed "Consolidated Mess" during World War II.

On December 30, 1943, the "Consolidated Mess," crashed in France while on a bombing mission targeting the refinery and port facilities in Ludwigshafen, Germany. The aircraft had departed from Station 146 in Seething, Norfolk, UK. While flying over the Oise department, near the communes of Feigneux or Russy-Bémont—about 4 kilometers northeast of Crépy-en-Valois—it came under attack by enemy fighters. Only part of the crew was able to evacuate before the aircraft struck the ground at 13:45, exploding on impact and being completely consumed by fire.

TSgt Brant was Killed in Action and is now buried in the Epinal American Cemetery and Memorial, Epinal, Departement des Vosges, Lorraine, France.

Source of information: http://francecrashes39-45.net/