James Bernard Dougherty was born on May 6, 1920, in Jersey City, Hudson County, New Jersey. He was the son of Elizabeth "Bessie" McAnerney Dougherty. He was married to Ruth Herzog Cashnelli. He served in the 527th Bomber Squadron, 379th Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Second Lieutenant and Bombardier of B-17G #42-39782 nicknamed "Pistol Packin' Mama" during World War II.

On February 8, 1944, the B-17 Pistol Packin' Mama was shot down during Mission #214, which targeted Frankfurt, Germany. The bomber departed at 08:15 from Station 117 in Kimbolton, Cambridgeshire, UK. While flying over the Oise department in France—west of the commune of Amy and southeast of Roye—it came under attack by a German Fw 190 fighter. The crew began to bail out from an altitude of 22,000 feet around 10:25; however, 2Lt Dougherty was killed during the initial assault. It is believed that one of the attacking fighters may have fired upon the parachuting crew members, leading to the deaths of the pilot and radio operator.

2Lt Dougherty was not part of the aircraft's regular crew when he was killed in action. He is now buried in the Ardennes American Cemetery and Memorial, Neuville-en-Condroz, Arrondissement de Liège, Liège, Belgium.

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