Maj. James O. Umphries, Ret

by Thomas Umphries
(Shallotte NC)

My father was a B24 pilot a 2nd Lt. He used to like to say he completed 12 1/2 missions. He was reluctant to speak of his war experiences until much later in his life. He has since passed.
I don't have a lot of particulars, but know he was returning from Polesti, when they were strafed by German fighters. The fuel tanks were perforated and it was decided to go as far as they could before bailout. The whole crew bailed safely, they watched as the plane rolled over to starboard and went straight down. My father and his co-pilot came down over a little hill, upon landing he circled the hill and was captured by German patrol. The co-pilot had gone the opposite direction and was never captured.
My father was taken to Stalag Luft lll 7-15-44, just after the "Great Escape" took place from South Compound. He survived the Death March when the camp was evacuated ahead of Patton. The march itself was a harrowing experience, too long to tell here. If you can find a copy of Clipped Wings it contains a lot of photos and story of the march. My father stayed in the Air Force for 23 yrs. My mother even got him to attend a couple reunions of the POW camp. He even met a couple of former guards.
His co-pilot was Thomas Dwyer. I have the other crew members, but can't find it right now.
Luck is on my side, found the list: Robert McAuliff 2 LT
William Perry 2 LT
William Sammon S Sgt
Armond Sachetti S Sgt
Dean Button S Sgt
Ben Ferguson S Sgt
Leonard Audette S Sgt
Gilbert Schlehuber T Sgt
Chuck Hangen T Sgt
Sorry I don't know their positions in the aircraft. All the enlisted were sent to Stalag Luft IV.

Comments for Maj. James O. Umphries, Ret

Average Rating starstarstarstarstar

Click here to add your own comments

Feb 16, 2022
Rating
starstarstarstarstar
Unphres
by: Jack sammon

My uncle ,bill Sammon , was a gunner on the plane . They were returning from bombing Ploesti . After a while they had lost 3 engines. They got as far as -
Albania . All bailed out safely including a photographer on his first flight . He froze over the bomb bay . My uncle booted him in the butt . Fortunately , he opened his chute . Bill followed him

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to Our veteran's stories.

376 ARCHIVES

The website 376bg.org is NOT our site nor is it our endowment fund.

At the 2017 reunion, the board approved the donation of our archives to the Briscoe Center for American History, located on the University of Texas - Austin campus.

Also, the board approved a $5,000 donation to add to Ed Clendenin's $20,000 donation in the memory of his father. Together, these funds begin an endowment for the preservation of the 376 archives.

Donate directly to the 376 Endowment

To read about other endowment donation options, click here.


My Trip to San Pancrazio

October 2019


Reunion

NOTE change in month !!!

DATES: Oct 12-15, 2023

CITY:Fairfax Co, VA

HOTEL: Westin Dulles hotel

2520 Wasser Terrace, Herndon, VA 20171

866-932-7062


Click here to read about the reunion details.

previous reunions


For Sale

The Other Doolittle Raid


The Broken Wings of Zlatibor


The Liberandos


Three Crawford Brothers


Liberando: Reflections of a Reluctant Warrior


376th Bomb Group Mission History


The Last Liberator


Full Circle


Shadows of Wings


Ten Men, A "Flying Boxcar," and A War


I Survived Ploesti


A Measure of Life


Shot Down In Yugoslavia


Stories of My Life


Attack


Born in Battle


Bombardier's Diary


Lost Airmen


Langdon Liberando