James F. Bechtler was born on December 16, 1920, in Rock Hill, York County, South Carolina. He was the son of Luther Bryant Hill Bechtler and Eurah May Rich. He worked at the Claiborne Service Station in Rock Hill before enlisting in the service on July 14, 1942. He served in the 587th Bomber Squadron, 394th Bomber Group, Medium, as a Staff Sergeant and Bombardier of B-26 Marauder #42-96263 based at Station No. 161 in Boreham, Essex, during World War II. The Group earned the nickname “Bridge Busters” for its precision strikes against bridges, gun emplacements, fuel depots, and transportation targets.

On D-Day, June 6, 1944, his aircraft was part of a group departing for a mission when it collided midair with another B-26 (serial 42-96050) over Gillingham, Kent, England, at 5:05 a.m. in poor weather conditions. His aircraft crashed into an orchard at East Court Farm, Gillingham, and all crew members were killed. He is remembered as one of the American airmen who lost their lives on D-Day, not in combat, but while preparing to support the invasion efforts from the air.

SSgt Bechtler was originally buried in Cambridge, England. His remains were later repatriated to the United States, where he now rests in Richmond National Cemetery, Virginia, in a common grave alongside 2LT Emil F. Ostrowski and SGT Boris Salimsky.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, uk.forceswarrecords.com