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.

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Jul 31, 2023
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Tom Dwyer
by: TJ Dwyer

My grandfather was Tom Dwyer. He was the lucky one who escaped and was on the run for weeks. Thanks to the locals, two brothers got him to allied lines before the Germans could find him. He never discussed it much at all. From my understanding there is a specific # on a crew and the photographer was an extra so when they all got captured it took the Germans some time to realize the photographer was not part of the original crew. Hence my grandfather going on the run for over 3 weeks. When he got back to allied ground he noticed his cross chain had broke. Days later he saw it fell in his uniform pocket at some point on the run. I still have that cross today. Love to hear more stories, thanks for your stories. TJ

Feb 16, 2022
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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

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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.

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My Trip to San Pancrazio

October 2019


Reunion

NOTE change in month !!!

DATES: Oct 26-29, 2024

CITY:Tucson, AZ

HOTEL: Double Tree Suites Airport hotel

7051 South Tucson Blvd., Tucson, AZ 85756

520-225-0800


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