James William Schaen was born on March 15, 1918, in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. He was the son of Edward Vail Schaen and Grace Edith Schaen. He was married to Sarah Carter Schaen Naugher. He served in the 702nd Bomber Squadron, 445th Bomber Group, Heavy, as a First Lieutenant and Pilot of B-24 #44-10511 during World War II.

On September 27, 1944, B-24J Liberator #44-10511 of the U.S. Army Air Forces, operating with the Eighth Air Force in the European Theater, was lost during a combat mission over German-controlled territory. The aircraft was part of a heavy bomber formation dispatched from its base in England to strike strategic industrial and military targets in Germany. During the mission, the formation encountered intense German air defenses, including fighter interception and anti-aircraft fire. Sustaining severe combat damage, the bomber was shot down and crashed in enemy territory. Following the crash, members of the crew were reported killed, missing, or captured.

1Lt Schaen was killed in action and is now buried in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia, USA.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, U.S. National Archives Missing Air Crew Reports (MACR)