First Lieutenant
United States Army Air Force
James A. Thompson, son of Charles F. Thompson, is listed as Missing-In-Action on 14 July 1944.
James graduated from Saint Ambrose Academy (Class of 1939) and attended Saint Ambrose College before his family moved to Chicago in 1941.
James enlisted in the United States Army Air Force on 30 March 1942, as an aviation cadet. He took his basic training at Santa Ana, California and was commissioned on 12 December 1942, at Williams Field in Phoenix, Arizona. He received further training as a bombardier at Tuscon, Arizona; El Paso, Texas; and Lowry Field in Denver, Colorado. He left for England in June 1943 and was finally reassigned to Africa, were he was assigned to the 564th Bomber Squadron, 389th Bomber Group, Heavy.
On 21 July 1943, a War Department telegram was delivered to his father. In that telegram, he learned that James was a bombardier aboard a B-24 Liberator bomber and was reported Missing-In-Action over Sicily since 14 July. Approximately two weeks later, another War Department telegram arrived. In that telegram, his father learned James’ bomber was one of seven reported lost during a 14 July mission over Catania, Italy. His bomber was hit and it was reported that members of the bailed out over water, and were reported missing.
James was survived by his father, Charles.
First Lieutenant James A. Thompson, United States Army Air Force, is buried in the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery at Nettuno, Italy. Among his decorations and awards is the Purple Heart.
Source of Information:
1. Saint Ambrose Academy school newspaper, the Saint Ambrose Academy News, 28 September 1944, page 1.
2. Saint Ambrose Academy school newspaper, the Saint Ambrose Academy News, 12 October 1944, page 1.
3. Davenport Democrat and Times, 22 July 1943, page 11.
4. Davenport Democrat and Times, 3 August 1943, page 9.
5. American Battle Monument Commission.
6. National Archives, World War II Honor List of Dead and Missing Army and Army Air Forces Personnel for the State of Iowa.
7. National World War II Memorial veteran’s registry; http://www.wwiimemorial.com/.
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