James Monroe Gill (1918 - 1943)

Born 26 Feb 1918 in Mendenhall, Simpson, Mississippi, United States

Died 1 Aug 1943 at age 25 in Ionian Sea

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Biography

James Gill was awarded the Silver Star Medal.

James Gill was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States).

James Gill was awarded the Purple Heart.

James Gill was awarded the Air Medal.

1st Lieutenant James Gill served in the United States Army Air Forces in World War II
Service started: 9 Dec 1941
Unit(s): 329th Bombardment Squadron, 93rd Bombardment Group, Ninth Air Force
Service ended: 1 Aug 1943

1st Lieutenant James Gill was Killed in Action when shot down by Axis fighters over the Ionian Sea returning from Operation Tidal Wave during World War II.

James was born 26 February 1918 in Mendenhall, Mississippi. He as the son of John Gill and Elta Grantham.

He passed away on 1 August 1943 when the B-24 Bomber, 'Hare's To Ya' 'Jo-Jo'S Special Delivery', was intercepted by Axis fighters off Kefalonia, Greece and presumed downed over Ionian Sea. James was the bombardier for the bomber as part of Operation Tidal Wave a low level bombing mission against the oil refineries at Ploesti, Romania. He was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for the mission.

• 1920 - Cato, Rankin, Mississippi, United States.^[1]
• 1930 - Beat 5, Rankin, Mississippi, United States.^[2]
• 1940 - Beat 5, Rankin, Mississippi, United States.^[3]

Find A Grave: Memorial #56247206 - North Africa American Cemetery and Memorial, Carthage, Tunis, Tunisia

Find A Grave: Memorial #21439970 - Cato Cemetery, Cato, Rankin County, Mississippi, USA

Sources

1. ↑ "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MNTX-F6P : accessed 1 January 2021), Jame M Gill in household of John I Gill, Cato, Rankin, Mississippi, United States; citing ED 64, sheet B, line 74, family 33, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 893; FHL microfilm 1,820,893.
2. ↑ "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X9MZ-NK1 : accessed 1 January 2021), James M Gill in household of John I Gill, Beat 5, Rankin, Mississippi, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 17, sheet 12B, line 74, family 264, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 1164; FHL microfilm 2,340,899.
3. ↑ "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VB39-7LV : 27 January 2020), James M Gill in household of John I Gill, Beat 5, Rankin, Mississippi, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 61-19, sheet 12B, line 62, family 210, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 2062.

• The National Archives in St. Louis, Missouri; St. Louis, Missouri; WWII Draft Registration Cards for Mississippi, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147; Box: 187. Ancestry.com. U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. Ancestry Record 2238 #268941765
• "United States World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KM61-WKW : 5 December 2014), James M Gill, enlisted 09 Dec 1941, Jackson, Mississippi, United States; citing "Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, ca. 1938-1946," database, The National Archives: Access to Archival Databases (AAD) (http://aad.archives.gov : National Archives and Records Administration, 2002); NARA NAID 1263923, National Archives at College Park, Maryland.
• Clarion-Ledger, Jackson, Mississippi, 20 May 1942, Wed • Page 14
• Clarion-Ledger, Jackson, Mississippi, 07 Mar 1942, Sat • Page 10
• Six State Men Reported Wounded, Clarion-Ledger, Jackson, Mississippi, 18 Apr 1943, Sun • Page 5
• James M. Gill of Puckett Takes Part In Raid On Brest, Clarion-Ledger, Jackson, Mississippi, 07 Mar 1943, Sun • Page 1
• Eighth Air Force Members Batter at Axis Defenses, The Greenwood Commonwealth, Greenwood, Mississippi, 23 Jun 1943, Wed • Page 3
• Parents Of Missing Lieutenant Receive Letter From His Commanding Officer, Clarion-Ledger, Jackson, Mississippi, 23 Sep 1943, Thu • Page 10
• Father Of Puckett Lieutenant Presented Distinguished Cross, Clarion-Ledger, Jackson, Mississippi, 17 Dec 1943, Fri • Page 14
• The Hall of Valor Project - James M. Gill
• American Battle Monument Commission - James M. Gill