James Bruce Tolleson
1946
Mechanical Engineering
Attended Clemson Sep 1942 - June 1943.
Laurens County, SC / Rutherford County NC
Army Air Force, Staff Sergeant
868th Bombartment Squadron, Gunner on B-24M6 SN 44-50397
Purple Heart, Air Medal
Jul 17, 1945
Killed in Action while on a combat mission in the Borneo Theater (Pacific).
Memorialized with his crew members in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia; Section 34, Site 4808.
SW
Additional Information
Missing Air Crew Report 14768- 868th Bombardment Squadron
- Gunner on B-24M6 SN 44-50397
- KIA on combat mission: Destination Mahakan River, Borneo
- Last known where about 3:29 am, JUN 17 1945, Pitoe Airdrome
According to MACR 14768: SSGT Tolleson’s plane was last seen during takeoff at 0329 heading west to conduct a search of the Mahakam River. Conducting the same mission 25 minutes earlier, a pilot attempted to make contact with SSGT Tolleson’s but failed. Once the ground station realized the situation of the missing plane the following action took place that afternoon. One plane was instructed to search the islands of Morotai Strait and the areas of Halmahera. Another plane searched Tolleson’s assigned route. All surrounding islands were searched but results were negative. Searches were conducted for 2 days, both ending in negative results.
List of Crew: 2nd LT Robert F Marcotte Pilot KIA 2nd LT William S Grieves JR Co-Pilot KIA2nd LT Jack Weisberg Navigator KIA
2nd LT Richard E Ackerman Bomber KIA
2nd LT Robert A White Radar KIA
CPL Benjamin B Ciak Engr KIA
CPL Edward R Jacoby Radio KIA
CPL Michael Chapatoris Gunner KIA
SGT Frederick L Schreckenberg Gunner KIA
S SGT Richard H Rutledge Gunner Rescued
S SGT James B Tolleson Gunner KIA Staff Sergeant Tolleson was born in Spindale, North Carolina and attended Ford High School in Laurens, South Carolina. He entered Clemson College September 1942 and went in the service on January 6, 1944. He was assigned to the Borneo Theater of Action in January 1945 as a B–24 bomber gunner. Tolleson died when his aircraft crashed into a mountain at Halmahera Island. His plane took off from Pitoe Air Strip July 17, 1945 on a combat mission. There was no contact with the aircraft after take off and an extensive search was conducted. There was one survivor that returned to duty through enemy lines. Tolleson received the Air Medal for meritorious achievement. Source of Narrative and Picture: Real Heroes: Rutherford County Men Who Made the Supreme Sacrifice During WWII, by Dr. Anita Price Davis.
Related Images Click to Enlarge
Names of B-24 Crew Members
