James Albert Calhoun (1917 - 1944)

Born 3 Mar 1917 in Duluth, St. Louis, Minnesota, United States

Husband of Grace Rose (Carlsen) Calhoun — married 9 Sep 1936 in Brewster, Putnam, New York, United States

Died 8 Sep 1944 at age 27 in Yugoslavia

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Biography

Lt. Jimmie Calhoun was Killed in Action during World War II.

Jimmie Calhoun is a Military Veteran.
Served in the United States Army Air Force 100th Fighter Squadron 1943-1944
Tuskegee Airman flying Ace

Jimmie Calhoun was awarded the Purple Heart.

Jimmie Calhoun is Notable.

Jimmie Calhoun served as a US military pilot during World War II. He was one of the “Documented Original Tuskegee Airmen.” The Tuskegee Airmen were known for heroic combat service in support of Allied Forces in the European Theater. They served with the 332d Expeditionary Operations Group and the 477th Bombardment Group, both largely Black units of the United States Army Air Forces.

James Albert Calhoun was born in 1917 in Duluth, Minnesota to James Calhoun and Eva Miller. His father moved the family to Bridgeport, Connecticut and in 1930, was working as a gardner for a private home^[1]. It was there that Jimmie attended Central High School, graduating in 1936.

In September, he married Grace Rose Carlsen. By 1940, they had two children, and Jimmie was working as a laborer for a machine company. ^[2].

A third child was born in 1941, before Jimmie enrolled in the Tuskegee Air Pilot Program. He left his wife and three children in 1943 and entered the training program. After graduating, he was stationed with the 100th Fighter Squadron, 332nd Fighter Group, based in Ramitelli Airfield in Italy. He flew a P-51 as escort on bombing missions. He was on a strafing mission over Flandza Airdrome in Yugoslavia when he seemed to lose control of his plane and he crashed into the target. The plane burst into flames.

His body was recovered and he is buried in Sicily-Rome American Cemetery.^[3]. There is an epitaph that stands in Massachusetts National Cemetery^[4] and it is here where his wife, Grace is buried.^[5]

Sources

1. ↑ "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XMG1-6FF : accessed 7 July 2020), James Calhoun in household of James Calhoun, Bridgeport, Fairfield, Connecticut, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 50, sheet 19B, line 85, family 384, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 255; FHL microfilm 2,339,990.
2. ↑ "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KWMK-51X : 7 May 2020), James Calhoun, Voting District 12B, Bridgeport, Bridgeport Town, Fairfield, Connecticut, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 9-164, sheet 62B, line 79, family 43, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 533.
3. ↑ https://www.abmc.gov/decedent-search/calhoun%3Djames-0
4. ↑ https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56307162/james-albert-calhoun
5. ↑ https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/72769018/grace-r-calhoun