James L. Bruce was born on January 22, 1923, in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. He resided in Nueces County, Texas prior to the war.

James enlisted in the Army on January 25, 1943, at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being employed as a mechanic and also as Single, with dependents.

James served in the 850th Bomber Squadron, 490th Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Technical Sergeant and Radio Operator on the B-17G #44-8140 during World War II. He was Killed in Action but was declared "Missing" on December 5, 1944, when his B-17 was hit by enemy flak and crashed in Gross Zerlang, Germany. His remains were never recovered.

TSgt Bruce is memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing, Netherlands American Cemetery, Margraten, Netherlands.

Crew of the B-17G #44-8140:
Kermode, Donald ~ Capt, Command Pilot, POW
Gregory, Ralph E, Jr ~ Capt, Mission/Pilot, KIA
Meadows, Martin F ~ 1st Lt, Co-Pilot, KIA
Bruce, James L ~ T/Sgt, Radio Operator, KIA
Caldwell, John T ~ S/Sgt, Right Waist Gunner, KIA
Dorr, Earle L, Jr ~ S/Sgt, Tail Gunner, KIA
Hillweg, Charles U, Jr ~ 1st Lt, Bombardier, KIA
Mayer, Clement T ~ T/Sgt, Top Turret Gunner, KIA
Meyer, Walter A, Jr ~ S/Sgt, Togglier, KIA
Upshaw, Charles C ~ 2nd Lt, Radar Operator, KIA
Wood, William F ~ 1st Lt, Navigator, KIA

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.abmc.gov