Born Jan. 7, 1921, in Gainesville, Hall County, Georgia, James Osgood Burgess was the second son and youngest child of Osgood Miller Burgess (1895-1967) and Bessie May Stovall (1891-1983). Older siblings included John Stovall Burgess (1918-1992) and sister, Janie Elizabeth Burgess (1916-2011). James, his mother and brother, moved to Munford after the divorce of his parents between 1930-1935. Mother found a job working for Haddad’s, the boys attended Munford schools, and James worked as a projectionist at Munford Theater to earn money. He graduated from Munford High School as a member of the Class of 1941.

After graduation, James, who went by his middle name Osgood, moved to Memphis and began working as a bank clerk for First National Bank. He soon enlisted in the Army Air Corps on April 21, 1942 in Memphis, Tennessee as a Private, service# 14107113.

An intelligent young man, he was soon promoted to the officer’s ranks, officer service #O-753325, and graduated from U.S. Army flight training at Yuma Army Air Field, Yuma, Arizona on Aug 30, 1943, as an aviation pilot with the rank of Second Lieutenant. After his training was completed, he was attached to the 5th Air Force, V-Bomber Command, 345th Bomb Group (Medium), 500th Bomb Detachment, flying B-25s in the South Pacific during World War II.

2nd Lt James O. Burgess found himself as co-pilot on B-25D “Hell’s Fire” #41-30278, along with pilot, 2nd Lt Allan W. Lay; Navigator/Bomber 2nd Lt Arthur L. Greger; radio operator S/Sgt Raymond A. LaBoy; and crew members S/Sgt John Turner and S/Sgt Ray S. Walker. Accompanying “Hell’s Fire” were 12 other B-25s belonging to the 345th BG, on a strike mission – their orders – to attack Japanese installations along the Lambeh Strait, Indonesia.

Six of the B25s attack Lambeh Town and the ITSUKUSHIMA, an Imperial Japanese Navy minelayer. The minelayer threw up an intense barrage of AA fire that shoots down 2nd Lt Lloyd B. Bardwell’s B-25D nicknamed the “Mexican Spitfire.” ITSUKUSHIMA’s AA fire also damages two other B-25’s that later crash-land at Middleburg Island, Netherlands East Indies (NEI).

Bardwell ditches in the water about seven miles from Lahbeh Island. Several survivors are seen. 2nd Lt Allan W. Lay flies top cover in B-25D “Hell’s Fire”. Soon, three Mitsubishi A6M “Zeke” fighters arrive. Two attack Lay’s B-25 and the third strafes Bardwell’s crew in the water. The Zekes shoots down “Hell’s Fire,” which crashes into the base of Mount Tongkoko, north of Sulawesi, Indonesia. The “Mexican Spitfire’s” crew is never seen again. ¹

The entire crew of “Hell’s Fire” was killed on Sept. 2, 1944. Twenty-three-year-old James Osgood Burgess’ remains were reported the only ones never recovered and he was first declared MIA (missing in action) on Sept 2. The following day, Sept.3, his status was changed to KIA (killed in action).

He is memorialized at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in Manila, Philippines and at Alta Vista Cemetery, located in the town of his birth, Gainesville, Hall County, Georgia.

2nd Lt James Osgood Burgess was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and Air Medal.

Burgess, James O ~ 2nd Lt, Co-Pilot, Munford, TN

Greger, Arthur L ~ 2nd Lt, Nav/Bmb, TX

LaBoy, Raymond A ~ S/Sgt, Radio Operator, NY

Lay, Allan W ~ 2nd Lt, Pilot, MO

Turner, John ~ S/Sgt, VA

Walker, Ray S ~ S/Sgt, AR

1. IJN Minelayer ITSUKUSHIMA: Tabular Record of Movement by Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall; http://www.combinedfleet.com/Itsukushima_t.htm
2. Crew Report by Russ Pickett; findagrave.com/memorial/56781474/james-o-burgess