John L. James was inducted into the U.S. Army on May 12, 1941. He was assigned to an anti- aircraft unit at Fort Lewis in El Paso, Texas, but later transferred to the Army Air Corps. After completion of training, James was deployed to Europe, where he joined the 8th Air Force, 100th Bomb Group, 350th Squadron.    James flew fourteen missions out of England. In October of 1943, his plane was shot down over Holland. He parachuted to safety, but was injured. James was captured by the German Army and remained a prisoner of war until May 1, 1945. He was discharged from the Army in 1947. James received several decorations including a Purple Heart, the Distinguished Flying Cross, European and American Campaign Medals and a Prisoner of War Medal.

Transcript Number 005 Interviewee: John James Interviewer: Joseph James Date of Interview: Location of Interview: Wilmington, N.C. Description: 2 VHS Cassettes (c. 140 min.): sd. col. Series: World War II Veterans Oral History Preservation Project Series: Voices of Experience