James C Harris

310thBG,428thBS, Lt James C "JIM" Harris, Pilot /Harris Family Photo

Lt James C "JIM" Harris was a B-25 Pilot in the 310th Bomb Group, 428th Bomb Squad out Of Corsica in the Mederranean Theatre flying Combat Mission against the AXIS.

James C. ‘Jim’ Harris, age 85, of San Clemente, CA, died on October 10, 2001, of cancer. He was one of the original group of retired OSI special agents in 1965 who, along with the late Bob Beckner and others, conceived and organized what was to become the Association of Former OSI Special Agents, Inc. His membership number was 4-RG.
He joined the Army Air Corps in January 1943, completed pilot flight training, and was eventually assigned to the 428th Bomb Sq, 310th Bomb Group, flying missions from Corsica and Italy in B-25 aircraft. Upon return to the United States, he was assigned to Muroc Army Air Field, CA, for training in the P-80A. In January 1947, he was assigned to the US Army CIC, attended the CIC School at Ft Holabird, MD, and was subsequently assigned to the CIC Office at Harrisburg, PA. In 1948, he transferred to AF CIC at Bolling AFB, DC, and thence to OSI on August 1, 1948. He was a graduate of Class 49-C, Basic Investigator’s Course.
His subsequent OSI assignments were Bolling AFB and Andrews AFB, MD (1948 to 1950); OSI District 18, Cheli AFS, CA (1951 to 1952); Korea-POW Exchange Program (1953); OSI/USAFE, Rhein/Main AB, Munich and Nurnberg, GE (1953 to 1957); and OSI District 18 (1958 to 1964). He retired from active duty in December 1964.
Prior to WWII, he worked for United Air Lines as a passenger agent in Denver, Chicago and New York City. In January 1965, he went to work as an investigator in the Intelligence Unit, Office of the Los Angeles County District Attorney, Evelle J. Younger, himself an honorary member of our association. In 1969, following Younger’s election as California State Attorney General, He became the Chief, Security Unit, State Attorney General’s Office; retiring from the California Dept of Justice in 1980.
Survivors include his wife, Dottie, son and daughter. Messages of condolence may be sent to the family at 2490 S. Ola Vista #23, San Clemente, CA., 92672.
Burial with full military honors was at the Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, Point Loma, San Diego, CA, on November 1, 2001.