52nd FG Pilot Staff Sergeant James Edward Butler

[TOM WALSH]

Looking for any information on S/Sgt. James Edward Butler who flew with the 2nd FS/52nd FG.

Some publications say he had 4 kills, others state 5. Was killed in action on April 20, 1943 in North Africa.

Looking for a hometown, date of birth, etc.

Have a suspicion he trained in the RCAF.

Cheers,

Tom Walsh.

[Pathfinder]

S SG James E. Butler
ID: 39082793
Branch of Service: U.S. Army
Hometown: Nevada, CA
Status: KIA

Birth: Jan. 13, 1920
Death: Apr. 20, 1943

SSGT US ARMY AIR FORCES
WORLD WAR II

Burial:
Golden Gate National Cemetery
San Bruno
San Mateo County
California, USA
Plot: Section R Site 3537

http://image2.findagrave.com/photos/201 ... 421993.jpg

EDIT: Interesting....1930 Census shows him as the second oldest son of Clair and Gladys Butler, AGE 14 so born 1916. Family was living in Grass Valley Township, Nevada County, CA. All of his siblings were sons so might be fairly simple to trace the family. One brother older....four younger.

EDIT (2): 1920 CENSUS shows same family and second oldest son is ELLIS J, born 1916. (Fathers name shows as Cris A) Wife Gladys. Not that unusual for a person to opt to go by his middle name if mom and dad were too creative with the original first name....but why did he change his birth year? 1920 shows in his NARA enlistment record and on his grave stone (which would have been copied from his enlistment record).

Last edited by Pathfinder on Tue Aug 06, 2013 9:55 am, edited 3 times in total.

[TOM WALSH]

Pathfinder,

Excellent, thank you.

Have enough information now to search Library & Archives Canada in Ottawa, Ontario.

Results could take up to a year, but I'll keep you advised.

Cheers,

Tom Walsh.

[Pathfinder]

FYI there is also a 1LT James E Butler who was AAF and KIA(MIA) in North Africa in 1943.

What is the nexus of your search? Name, rank, location...?

[TOM WALSH]

Pathfinder,

The J. E. Butler I'm interested in is the NCO Pilot who almost attained Acedom as a Staff Sergeant flying Spitfires with the 52nd FG.

I suspect he arrived at the 52nd via the RCAF.

I am documenting and writing the biographers of those Americans who took this route prior to America entering WW II on December 8, 1941.

My book is entitled "Remembering The Canadian Yanks".

It is available at Amazon.com or Borders.com.

Volume II is set to be released this Winter.

Three more Volumes will follow over the next 8 years.

It is an interesting unknown segment of WW II aviation history that needs to be told and preserved.

Cheers,

Tom Walsh.

[Pathfinder]

Your James E. Butler entered US service on October 12, 1941. Under Source of Army Personnel it states that he came in via Selective Service within three months of discharge.

This indicates a few things. Based on his service number he was in fact drafted....at this time and up until April of 1943 a first digit 3 indicated draftee status. The second digit is the Corps Area...9...which includes most of the western US States.

Under BRANCH it states Air Corps. So he was on track with the Air Corps from day one. The "within three months of discharge" is murky. Had he been National Guard or Reserve he would have retained his number---which would have had first three digits 209. Had he been in regular service prior to the creation of Selective Service he would have had a seven digit number beginning with high 60's or low 70's.

WHOA!!!!!

STOP PRESS....ABORT!! ABORT!! WAVE OFF!!!! The James E...Ellis J b. 1916 of my earlier post is NOT our guy.

I just found YOUR JAMES E BUTLER with correct birthdate---13JAN20---born in Lakeport, Lake County, CA. Mother's maiden name SMITH.

In the 1930 Census the family is listed:

Head Albert A Chapman M 22 California (yes, age 22 is clear as a bell in the handwritten Census form)
Wife Lyta B Chapman F 30 California
Stepson James E Butler M 10 California

In Fold3 the family Chapman is indexed as ChoFman.

So I apologize for the initial error....no name change...no faked birth year....but he eventually DID wind up in Nevada County...

Edit: He is in the 1920 Census for Lake County, CA, as the son (age 0/12) of Tobias J and Lyta B Butler. The census was taken on 21JAN so he was one week old.

[TOM WALSH]

Pathfinder,

Got it, thanks.

Will let you know what I find out.

Cheers,

Tom Walsh.

[Nilsa66]

Thanks for that link, Andy! I knew there were American volunteers that flew with the RAF early in the war, but what I have learned in this article is all new to me. I'll have to do some research into the Mosquito in US service and I am now assuming there may have been others, as well. Interesting stuff, for sure!