DIXON, JAMES W Feb 16, 1945 age 25 FOD Austria

JAMES WILLIAM DIXON  b. July 19, 1919 Walkerville, Canada d. Feb 16, 1945

Finding of Death Villach, Austria

T Sgt 36123970 Army Air Force 485^th Bomb Group 829^th Bomb Sq Group H

16875 Chatham

Buried Grand Lawn Cemetery, Detroit

 

Parents: Albert J. & Ethel Gertrude (McCubbin)

Siblings: Delma Grace, Ethel Beatrice   

Another family migrating from Canada. Father Albert came earlier in April and was in the house at 16875 Chatham, then mother Ethel and Delma came in June 1934. Young James arrived with sister Ethel in Sept 1935. Albert worked as a fur cutter and both daughters were stenographers, the leading career option for women in the 1940’s before they were needed in the factories.

Swim Team

James graduated from Redford in 1935; his yearbook quote was “Hold the fort, I’m coming.” He was part of that first wave of registrations on 16 Oct 1940; when he enlisted in July 1941 he worked as a billing clerk for a creamery. His registration lists him as 5’10”, 165 lbs with brown hair and eyes. He served 8 months in Alaska before a transfer to the European theater of war.



Dixon front row, far right

With the 485^th Bomb Group he flew first with the Cameron crew. That plane #44-49657 was shot down over Greece Sept 24, 1944, but there was a replacement in Dixon’s position. On Feb 16, 1945 Dixon was the replacement gunner on a mission to hit the Obertaubling A/C plant in Regensburg, Germany. The plane was piloted by Col John Tomhave, then Group Commanding Officer. It crashed near Villach, Austria. 2 were killed, others were captured, some evaded capture. Tomhave was captured by Germans but later died when on a POW train was strafed by Allied fighters.

James was shot down March 6, 1945 and classified MIA; a Finding of Death was made March 20, 1946.