James Taylor Fields was born on October 3, 1915, in Hewins, Chautauqua County, Kansas. He was married to Mary Fields. He enlisted in the Army in December 1942 and later flew combat missions over Europe. He served in the 702nd Bomber Squadron, 445th Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Technical Sergeant and Radio Operator of B-24 #42-50383 nicknamed 'King Kong' during World War II.

On September 27, 1944, “King Kong” took off from RAF Tibenham, England, as part of the Eighth Air Force mission to bomb the Henschel industrial works at Kassel, Germany. During the operation, the 445th Bomb Group became separated from the main bomber stream and lost fighter escort protection. After the bombing run, German fighters, primarily Fw 190s and Bf 109s, launched heavy, close-range attacks on the isolated formation over central Germany. King Kong was severely hit by enemy gunfire, caught fire, and exploded in mid-air, throwing some crew members clear of the aircraft. The burning bomber crashed at approximately 12:15 PM about 1,000 yards northeast of Archfeld, roughly nine miles northwest of Eisenach, Germany. Several crew members were killed inside the aircraft, while others perished when the wreckage fell. In total, five crew members were killed, and four were captured as prisoners of war.

TSgt Fields was initially reported missing in action before later being declared killed. Evidence from postwar investigations indicates that he may have survived the crash but was murdered on the ground after landing, making his death part of the war crimes associated with attacks on downed American airmen following the Kassel mission period. He is now buried in the Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial, Saint-Avold, Département de la Moselle, Lorraine, France.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.rafb24.com, weremember.abmc.gov