James Reed Polkinghorne (1921 - abt. 1945)

Born 16 Jun 1921 in Pensacola, Escambia, Florida, USA

Ancestors

Died about 5 May 1945 at about age 23 in Rome, Città Metropolitana di Roma Capitale, Lazio, Italy [uncertain]

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Biography

James Polkinghorne is a Military Veteran.
Served in the United States Army Air Force 301st Fighter Squadron 1943-1944
Tuskegee Airman flying Ace

1Lt. James Polkinghorne was Missing in Action during World War II.

James Polkinghorne is Notable.

LT USAAF WWII 301st FS Pilot

He was from Pensacola FL. He graduated from flight school at Tuskegee Army Air Field AL, Class 43-B, 16 February 1943.

On 5 May 1944, he went missing in his P-39 Airacobra squadron near Sezze, Italy due to developing inclement weather.

He was awarded the Air Medal and the Purple Heart.

—— Son ofJames Polkinghorne and Maggie Ridley of 523 Reus Street, Pensacola, Florida. He graduated from Washington High School and left Florida A&M University in his junior year to enlist in the US Army Air Corps. Was assigned to the 301st Fighter Squadron in Italy flying the P-39 Airacobra fighter. A book was written by Leo Murphy called "Lost in Heaven" concerning the life of this young man.

Sources

• https://cafriseabove.org/james-r-polkinghorne-jr/

James R Polkinghorne Jr in the U.S., World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946

U.S., World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946No Image Text-only collection Name: James R Polkinghorne Jr Birth Year: 1921 Race: Negro, citizen (Black) Nativity State or Country: Florida State of Residence: Florida County or City: Escambia

Enlistment Date: 31 May 1942 Enlistment State: Florida Enlistment City: Eglin Field Branch: Air Corps Branch Code: Air Corps Grade: Private Grade Code: Private Term of Enlistment: Enlistment for the duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law Component: Army of the United States - includes the following: Voluntary enlistments effective December 8, 1941 and thereafter; One year enlistments of National Guardsman whose State enlistment expires while in the Federal Service; Officers appointed in the Army of Source: Civil Life

Education: 3 years of college Civil Occupation: Actors and actresses Marital status: Single, without dependents Height: 70 Weight: 138 Source Information Ancestry.com. U.S., World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2005.

Polkinghorne in the World War II and Korean Conflict Veterans Interred Overseas

World War II and Korean Conflict Veterans Interred OverseasNo Image Text-only collection Name: James R Polkinghorne Jr Inducted From: Florida Rank: First Lieutenant Combat Organization: 301st Fighter Squadron 332nd Fighter Group Death Date: 6 May 1945 Monument: Sicily & Rome, Italy Last Known Status: Missing U.S. Awards: Purple Heart Medal Air Medal Source Information National Archives and Records Administration. World War II and Korean Conflict Veterans Interred Overseas [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2000.

• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 14 July 2020), memorial page for 1Lt James Reed Polkinghorne, Jr (16 Jun 1921–6 May 1945), Find A Grave: Memorial #56313285, citing Sicily-Rome American Cemetery and Memorial, Nettuno, Città Metropolitana di Roma Capitale, Lazio, Italy ; Maintained by B24CoPilotNiece (contributor 47391745) .