Name:
James R. Lavin
Rank:
First Lieutenant
Serial Number:
O-734110
Unit:
547th Bomber Squadron, 384th Bomber Group
Date of Death:
1944-04-13
State:
Indiana
Cemetery:
Netherlands American Cemetery
Plot:
P
Row:
22
Grave:
7
Decoration:
Air Medal, Purple Heart
Comments:
Born on February 11, 1920, in Perry Country, Indiana, Lavin was the pilot of the B-17F "Flying Fortress" 42-97274 that exploded in mid-air and subsequently crashed near Fouleng, Belgium. He and his crew typically flew in the B-17F nicknamed "Royal Flush" but were assigned a different plane for their mission over Schweinfurt, Germany, where there was a ball-bearing factory.