Missing information?
Do you have any additional information you would like to share about a soldier?
Submit- Full
name
MASSEY, James Young - Date of
birth
12 February 1917 -
Age
27 - Place of
birth
unknown -
Hometown
Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-748439 -
Rank
First Lieutenant -
Function
Pilot -
Unit
339th Bombardment Squadron,
96th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
9 April 1944 - Place of
death
Baltic Sea
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| B | 39 | 15 |
Immediate family
-
Members
M. P. Massey (father)
Barbara Massey (sister)
Frances A. Massey (sister)
Marcus P. Massey (brother)
Sarah Massey (sister)
Charles Massey (brother)
Marjorie (Mauldin) Massey (wife)
James Y. Massey (son)
Terrie Massey (daughter)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-40051 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Poznan, Poland
MACR: 3652
More information
1st Lt James Y. Massey attended Tech High School in Atlanta, Georgia.He joined the Army Air Corps of the Regular Army in 1939. He was sent overseas in February 1943.
On the return flight, the bombers were attacked by German fighters, and 42-40051 was hit by fire from a ME 410 from II.ZG 26 and crashed into the Baltic Sea off Nysted on the Island of Lolland, killing the whole crew.
A memorial stone to the crew can be found in Nysted, Denmark.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, 1940 US Census, Atlanta Journal - 29 April 1944, FindaGrave.com, The Commercial Appeal (Memphis, Tennessee) - 9 August 1944
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, www.newspapers.com - The Atlanta Constitution - 28 June 1943, Atlanta Journal - 29 April 1944