James William Thornton was born on September 27, 1915, in Outagamie County, Wisconsin. He was the son of James Harvey Thornton and Emma M. Puls Thornton.

James served in the 782nd Bomber Squadron, 465th Bomber Group, as a Second Lieutenant and Co-Pilot on the B-24G #42-78322 during World War II.

On August 3, 1944, his crew took off from Pantanella, Italy, on a bombing mission over Friedrichshafen, Germany. On their return, they were attacked and shot down by German aircraft. His aircraft crashed 200m north of the Lermoos Village Church, region of Tyrol, Austria. None of the crew members survived.

2Lt Thonton is now buried in the Shiocton-Bovina Saint Denis Cemetery, Shiocton, Outagamie County, Wisconsin, USA.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.tracesofwar.com, www.honorstates.org