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Personnel

T/Sgt

James A. WATKINS

Hometown During Time of Service: Princeton, IN
Army Serial Number: 15330820
Assigned to the 100th Bombardment Group
Location:
Unit: 350th Bombardment Squadron
Rank:
Position: Radio Operator / Gunner
Beginning Date of 100th Service: Unknown
Time of Service at Thorpe Abbotts: Unknown - Unknown

Additional 100th Service Notes

Status: POW
MACR: 01024
CR: 01024
Comments: 10 OCT MUNSTER (FLAK - EXP)

Media Articles

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Media ItemTypePageVolume/IssueBroadcast SourceTimeDescriptionFile
James Watkins MIAPrintPrinceton Daily Clarion Oct 25 194312:00 am
James Watkins POWPrintPrinceton Daily Clarion Nov 15 194312:00 am
James Watkins letter homePrintPrinceton Daily Clarion March 3 194412:00 am
James Watkins writes from POW campPrintPrinceton Daily Clarion Feb 28 194412:00 am
James Watkins sketches Prisoners part 1PrintThe Indianapolis Star Jan 25 194512:00 am
James Watkins draws prisoners part 2PrintThe Indianapolis Star Jan 25 194512:00 am
James Watkins sketches prisonersPrintPalladium Item Jan 25 194512:00 am
James Watkins Hossier’s art classes ease POW lifePrintThe Indianapolis Star June 10 194512:00 am

Comments and Notes

Memo 1:
CREW

2nd Lt Robert P.Kramer P KIA 10/10/43 THIS WAS THE FAMOUS MUNSTER MISSION OF 10 0CT 1943
2nd Lt Edward F.Connelly,Jr. CP POW 10/10/43 TAPS: 24 JAN 1981
2nd Lt Hugh S.Geiger,Jr . NAV POW 10/10/43
2nd Lt Thomas B.Casey,Jr. BOM POW 10/10/43 ,
T/Sgt Dean O.Todd TTE POW 10/10/43
T/Sgt James A.Watkins ROG POW 10/10/43 A/C #42 3433 "LEONA"
S/Sgt Donald M.Glaze BTG KIA 10/10/43 MACR #1024,Micro fiche 339
S/Sgt George A.White RWG KIA 10/10/43
S/Sgt Fred B.Moore LWG POW 10/10/43 TAPS: 10 MAY 1983
S/Sgt Harvey F.James TG POW 10/10/43

350th Sqdn. This is the 3rd mission for this crew, having flown the first one 4 Oct 43.(Hanua)
Oct 4, 1943 to Hanau
Oct. 8, 1943 to Bremen
Oct 10, 1943 Munster (shot down)

SEE: "MUNSTER: The Way It Was" by Ian Hawkins p.133,134,363,352

Reply from Geiger Oct.1990: Plane named "Leona" after wife of R.P.Kramer.

From statememts in the MACR file it would appear three men were killed were unable to bail out
prior to the ship entering a spin and finally exploding. Gieger (Lt Hugh E. Gieger, Jr.) said he personally
examined the dogtags and they had the appearance of being burned. Kramer (Lt Robert P. Kramer) was at
the nose exit ready to jump, when he turned back for one last verification all crew members had bailed out. This
gallant action cost the popular Bob Kramer his life.

German reports pinpoint the crash site and time as 1515 hours 10 Oct 1943 "at Lambeck near
Wulfen, 100 meters north of Schloss Lembeck." Interment was on 14 Oct 1943 at Catholic cemetary, Lambeck
in Row #1 graves 10, 11 and 12.
Memo 2:
POW/KIA notes: Crews 3rd Mission.

KIA / MIA / EVA / INT Information:

Target:
Munster
Aircraft:
"Leona" (42-3433)
Date:
1943-10-10
Cause:
FLAK-Explosion

Crew List

1st Crew List

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Rank Name Pos Status
Lt KRAMER, Robert P. P KIA
Lt CONNELLY, Edward CP POW
Lt GEIGER, Hugh S. NAV POW
Lt CASEY, Thomas B. BOM POW
T/SGT TODD, Dean O. TTE POW
T/Sgt WATKINS, James A. ROG POW
S/Sgt GLAZE, Donald M. BTG KIA
S/Sgt MOORE, Fred B. WG POW
S/Sgt WHITE, George WG KIA
S/Sgt JAMES, Harvey F. TG POW