James Fred Heiskell was born in Spring City, Rhea County, Tennessee, son of Hugh Brown Heiskell and Carrie Selina Wallis. He died on 28 April 1944 in Italy.
Sergeant 455th Bomber Group, 741st Bomber Squadron Heavy, 15th Air Force
Sgt Heiskell is buried together with Richard A. Callan, Alexander Eamons, Walter L. Slocum, William F. Matthews, Leonard E. Jesset, Lucian H. Hale and Alfred B. Jeffers on Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in Missouri.
Aircraft B-24H with serial number 41-29290 departed from San Giovanni Air Field on a combat mission. The aircraft crashed in mid-air by another plane which had been hit by enemy anti-aircraft.
Statement from T/Sgt Paul C. Roadman
At approximately 1519 on 28 April 1944, while in the vicinity of Porto San Stefano, Italy, I saw the B-24 plane piloted by Lt Jerome E. Slater Jr., receive a flak hit in the number one engine. The engine burst into flames. The plane peeled to the left and downward, and crashed into the B-24 plane piloted by Lt Richard A. Callan. Lt Slater´s plane then went down fast in a twisting turn, hit the ground and exploded on impact. One chute came out of Lt Slater´s plane, billowed open and appeared to land safely. The tail of Lt Callan´s plane was knocked off by the mid-air crash. The plane went into a slow, spiral, flat spin, and exploded on impact with the earth.
Crew members
Pilot, 1st Lt Richard A. Callan
Co-Pilot, 2nd Lt Alexander S.C. Emmons
Navigator, 2nd Lt Walter L. Slocum
Bombardier, 1st Lt Karl R. Massey
Radio Operator/Gunner, T/Sgt William F. Matthews
Engineer/Gunner, T/Sgt Leonard E. Jesset
Engineer/Gunner, Sgt James F. Heiskell
Armorer/Gunner, S/Sgt Lucian H. Hale
Armorer/Gunner, S/Sgt Alfred B. Jefferds
Armorer/Gunner, S/Sgt Daniel B. Connell
The Chattanooga Daily Times, July 6, 1944
Sgt. James Fred Heiskell of Spring City, Route 1, son of Mrs. Carrie Wallis Heiskell and the late H.B. Heiskell, has been reported by the War Department on April 28, as missing in action, while on a mission over Italy. He was a gunner on a Liberator. In a letter recently received by his mother, Mrs. Heiskell, from the Adjutant General’s office, it stated that another bomber flying above the B-24 was hit by anti-aircraft fire, and crashed into the bomber in which young Heiskell was a member. It was seen to go into a dive, but to date the fate of the crew is unknown. Sgt. Heiskell had been on 15 missions. He is the bother of Mrs. Benard Bender of Chattanooga and of Wallis and Hugh Brown Heiskell of Spring City.
- Rank: Sergeant
- Date of birth: 23 December 1914
- Date of death: 28 April 1944
- County: Rhea
- Hometown: Spring City
- Service Branch: Army/Army Air Forces
- Division/Assignment: 455th Bomber Group, 741st Bomber Squadron, Heavy
- Theater: Europe
- Conflict: World War II
- Awards: Purple Heart
- Burial/Memorial Location: Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, St. Louis, MO
- Location In Memorial: Pillar XVI, Bottom Panel
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