James Lawrence McCullin Jr (1918 - 1943)

Born 25 Nov 1918 in Saint Louis, Missouri

Ancestors

Died 2 Jul 1943 at age 24 in Sicily

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Biography

2Lt James McCullin Jr was Missing in Action during World War II.

James McCullin Jr is a Military Veteran.
Served in the United States Army Air Force 99th Fighter Squadron 1942-1943
Tuskegee Airman flying Ace

James McCullin Jr was awarded the Purple Heart.

James McCullin Jr is Notable.

James was born in 1918 to James McCullin and Bessie Lang^[1]. His father was a porter. By 1930, his father was working in business, and his mother was working at a local tavern. ^[2]. She would eventually have her own food establishment known as "Bessie's Diner."^[3]

James attended Sumner High School. Determined to have a college education, he worked his way through his college years with the NYA assistance in addition to working summers as a waiter. He attended the West Kentucky Industrial College at Paducah^[4], moving on to Kentucky State College at Frankfort, where he not only excelled academically but also in sports, playing football and basketball. The last half of his senior year, he was appointed assistant coach for the teams. ^[5]

Upon graduating from college, he immediately enlisted in the AirCorps and was assigned to training in Tuskegee. He received his wings in September of 1942. He was assigned to the 99th Fighter Squadron. On April 3, 1943, he sailed to North Africa, landing at Casablanca, traveling onto Qued N'ja in French Morocco. From there, the group moved to Fardjouna, Tunisia. Lt. James McCullin successfully completed escorted missions on June 2 and June 9.

On July 2, 1943 James departed from Ferdjoura airfield in Tunisia bound for a Lufrwasse base in Sicily. ^[6]. The escort mission was successful in keeping the B-25s safe while they dropped their bombs on the target, but they came under fierce attack from Luftwaffe planes once discovered.

James' plane is presumed to have been shot down during the attack. There were no eye witnesses to the event to try to determine the location. His family received notice that he was missing in action, and a month later, they were told that he was presumed dead.

His name is inscribed upon the tablets of the missing in Sicily-Rome American Cemetery. ^[7]. The date listed is his Finding of Death. An epitaph stands in Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery.^[8].

2 Lt James L McCullin Jr and 1 Lt Sherman W White, Jr. were the first two African American Tuskegee Pilot casualties in World War II. .

Sources

1. ↑ "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M8ZJ-GQ1 : accessed 19 July 2020), James McCullin, Jr in household of James McCullin, St Louis Ward 16, St Louis (Independent City), Missouri, United States; citing ED 329, sheet 5B, line 92, family 125, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 952; FHL microfilm 1,820,952.
2. ↑ "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHJ5-LNZ : accessed 19 July 2020), James J Mccullen in household of James Mccullen, St Louis (Districts 1-250), St Louis (Independent City), Missouri, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 127, sheet 5A, line 7, family 71, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 1239; FHL microfilm 2,340,974.
3. ↑ The St. Louis Star and Times, 21 Sep 1942, pg 9. Negro Who Left With $1.50 Graduates From Flying School
4. ↑ The Paducah Sun-Democrat, 8 Aug 1943, pg. 10.
5. ↑ The St. Louis Star and Times, 22 Sep 1942, pg 10.
6. ↑ MACR 538: AC 42-10941, pg. 2.
7. ↑ https://www.abmc.gov/decedent-search/mccullin%3Djames
8. ↑ https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/46714556/james-lawrence-mccullin