James Reed Butterfield was born on May 18, 1921, in Utah. He was the son of Thomas Solomon Butterfield and Martha Elizabeth Bowlden Butterfield.

James served in the 848th Bomber Squadron, 490th Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Sergeant and Waist Gunner on the B-17 #43-38072 during World War II. He was Killed in Action on March 21, 1945, when his airplane collided with a ME262, causing an explosion that sheared off the plane's tail. #43-38072 crashed at Plauen, Germany. As a result, all men aboard were killed, except the Tail Gunner, Sgt Craig Bennett.

Sgt Butterfield is now buried in the Herriman Cemetery, Herriman, Salt Lake County, Utah, USA.

Airmen who perished on B-17G (#43-38072):
Black, Frederick L ~ 2nd Lt, Co-Pilot, Kansas
Butterfield, James R ~ Sgt, Waist Gunner, Utah
Elie, Joseph T ~ S/Sgt, Engineer, Maine
Farkas, Joseph M ~ 2nd Lt, Navigator, New Jersey
Kennedy, Lloyd E ~ Sgt, Radio Operator, New Jersey
Lennon, Charles C ~ Sgt, Gunner, New York
Schultz, John J 1st Lt, Pilot, Maryland
Sten, Carl E ~ Sgt, Ball Turret Gunner, Kansas

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.americanairmuseum.com