James Bell Dickson

James Bell Dickson
Photo of Jim Bell in his P-51.
Personal details
Born	(1923-01-19)January 19, 1923
Died	August 8, 1944(1944-08-08) (aged 21)
Resting place	Oddfellows Rest Cemetery, Aberdeen, MS Plot 65B
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Army Air Force
Rank	Captain (Promoted posthumously: 1944)

James "Jim" Bell Dickson, a native of Aberdeen, Mississippi, was a pilot in the U.S. Army Air Forces. Jim Bell was KIA April 8, 1944 in P-51B, tail number 43-7147, YF-X .

Awarded Distinguished Flying Cross

He was assigned to the 358th Squadron, 355th Fighter Group, 8th AAF Fighter Station at Steeple Morden, England. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross which was pinned on by Colonel Jesse Anton of Covington, Kentucky.

Memoriam Monument

There is a monument in the Netherlands in memory of Jim Bell and Henri Pintaud at: Eikensingel 42, 8433 JK Haulerwijk, Ooststellingwerf, Nederland . He is also on The 355th Fighter Group Memorial at Steeple Morden UK .

On 8 April 1944, above and around Haulerwijk a heavy air battle between some German and American fighters. An American aircraft was hit and exploded in the air. The pilot, James B. Dickson, chair and all were thrown out. He came to a piece of arable land caught between Haulerwijk and Haule. Lieutenant Dickson belonged to the 358th Fighter Squadron 355th Fighter group, part of the 65th Fighter Wing, US 8th Air Force Fighter Command, stationed at Steeple Morden. His Mustang was returning from an escort flight. On April 11, Dickson was buried at the General Cemetery in Haulerwijk. After the war, he was reburied at the request of the family in the United States.

References

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