James Erbine Davison was born on August 13, 1920 in Casper, Wyoming to Charles and Mary Edna Montgomery Davison. His father Charles died in 1923 and his mother worked as a Servant to support her three young sons, she died in 1941. James was the middle son, his brothers were Montgomery and Max.

He had enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces and served during World War II. Davison had the rank of Corporal. Service number assignment was 19071853. Attached to 441st Troop Carrier Group, 301st Squadron as a Radio Operator.

He lost his life on D Day June 6, 1944. He was the pilot of the troop transport C47 #42-101025 it was making its way in tight formation with other troop carriers across the English Channel to Normandy, France. As the aircraft reached the coast of France, heavy cloud and fog scattered their formations while intensive flak barrages added to the confusion. The aircraft was shot down out of the sky and they crashed in Bois de Limors, near Picauville, France, killing all on board. There were 4 crew members and 18 paratroopers from the 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment.

James Erbine Davison is buried at Plot C Row 8 Grave 14, Normandy American Cemetery, Colleville-sur-Mer, France. This is an American Battle Monuments Commission location.

COMMENDATIONS

★ Air Medal

★ Purple Heart

22 casualties related to the #42-101025 incident on June 6, 1944.

441st Troop Carrier Group, 301st Squadron.

Pilot: Lt. Eugene F Hennig, AR https://www.fold3.com/page/638676151/eugene-f-hennig/stories

Co Pilot: 2nd Lt. Albert A Dorrance Jr, China https://www.fold3.com/page/639642062/albert-a-dorrance/facts

Crew Chief: Sgt. Dave Kramer, WI https://www.fold3.com/page/529910454/dave-kramer/facts

Radio Operator: Cpl. James E. Davison, WY https://www.fold3.com/page/529908264/james-e-davison/facts

501st Parachute Infantry Regiment.

Paratrooper: Pfc. San J Chavez, NM

Paratrooper: Pvt. Sterling D Hammond, IN

Paratrooper:Cpl. Thomas Harris, PA

Paratrooper: Pvt Claude E Hope, FL

Paratrooper:S/Sgt. George F Hurt, IL

Paratrooper: Pvt William T Jacobs, PA

Paratrooper:Sgt. Robert A Kennel, VA

Paratrooper:T5 Dale C Knight, ID

Paratrooper:T4 Joseph Lloreda Jr., TX

Paratrooper:Sgt. Fred Mueller, IA

Paratrooper:1st Lt. Ian D Nicolson, CA

Paratrooper: Pvt Ellsworth H Onger, MN

Paratrooper:Pfc. James B Sheen, ID

Paratrooper: Pvt Clifford K Smith, VA

Paratrooper:Pfc. Doyce F Spruell, GA

Paratrooper: Pvt Robert W Vail, MI

Paratrooper: Pvt Zale Wells, MT

Paratrooper:Sgt. Louis Westcoat, PA

Thank you for your supreme sacrifice in service to your country.

_This story is part of the Stories Behind the Stars project _https://www.storiesbehindthestars.org/. This is a national effort of volunteers to write the stories of all 400,000+ of the US WWII fallen here on Fold3. Can you help write these stories? Related to this, there will be a smart phone app that will allow people to visit any war memorial or cemetery, scan the fallen's name and read his/her story.

Sources:

https://www.ancestry.com/ - 1920, 1930, 1940 census, draft card

https://www.findagrave.com/

https://www.honorstates.org/index.php

James E Davison