SSGT. James Perkins Skelton was a Radio Operator and Aerial Gunner with the 12th Air Force; 57th Bombardment Wing; 310th Bombardment Group; 380th Bombardment Squadron; stationed in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations (MTO).

His Hometown was Jonesboro, Craighead County, Arkansas.

380th Bomb Squadron War Diary and History

09 September 1944

While participating in an operational mission to the Rimini, Italy area, (Gun and Ammo Dumps) the following men are listed as casualties:

B-25J; Serial No. 43-27735; Plane Nicknamed ALOHA; MACR: 8382;

P: Rock, John "Jack" M, 1LT; KIA; O-765086; Spokane, Spokane Co., WASH-10-01-44

CP: Mock, William W., 2LT; KIA; O-776376; Santa Monica, Los Angeles Co., CAL-09-16-44

B: Potts, Weston W., 2LT; KIA; O-706635; Bloomfield, Essex Co., NJ-09-09-44

RG: Skelton, James P., SSGT; KIA; 18165477; Jonesboro, Craighead Co., ARK-09-09-44

Turret G: Zygmuntowicz, Edward W., SSGT; KIA; 16081486; Chicago, Cook Co. ILL-09-09-44

Tail G: Ward, Vernon J., SGT; KIA; 13107294; New Brighton, Beaver Co. PA-09-09-44

Aircraft received a direct hit in the left wing, a few seconds after, "bombsaway". The left wing caught fire almost immediately, and the pilot was seen side-slipping the ship to the right, under good control, to keep the flames from the rest of the aircraft. About a minute after it was hit, the ship "peeled" off to the right and headed toward the ground. One parachute was seen to open as the ship headed for the ground. No other parachutes were observed to open.

No other information available

James P Skelton