Request Material





S/Sgt. James Edwin Williams papers

S/Sgt. James Edwin Williams papers

Descriptive Summary

Title: S/Sgt. James Edwin Williams papers
Creator: Fairman, Ray
Inclusive Dates: 1943-2014
Bulk Dates: 1943-1945
Language(s): English
Extent: 0.5 Linear Feet 1 box
Collection Number: ms4454
Repository: Hargrett Library

Collection Description

Historical Note

Staff Sergeant James Edwin Williams (1920-1978) was an assistant engineer, waist gunner in a B-24 bomber with the 801st Bombardment Group, 8th US Army Air Force during World War II. His plane was shot down over Belgium in 1944 and he was captured after briefly being hidden by the Belgian underground and made a Prisoner of War, spending time in the German Stalag 357.

The 801st Bomb Group was established as part of the Eighth Air Force in late March 1944 to carry out 'Carpetbagger' missions. These were night missions over France and other parts of occupied Europes to support resistance forces by dropping in agents, supplies and leaflets. Men in this group were sworn to the secrecy of their missions. On 13 August 1944, the Group was redesignated as the 492nd Bomb Group.

Scope and Content

This collection contains correpondence, photographs, printed material and US Army documents mostly concerning James Williams' time while serving and upon his discharge. Also included are some papers regarding his decorations and recognition for his service that his son J. Craig Williams worked to establish.


Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

[Item, box, folder], James Edwin Williams papers, ms4454, Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, The University of Georgia Libraries.


Related Materials and Subjects

Subject Terms

Families of military personnel -- Correspondence.
Prisoners of war.
United States. Army Air Corps -- History -- World War, 1939-1945.
United States. Army Air Forces.. Bombardment Group (Heavy), 492nd
World War, 1939-1945 -- Aerial operations
World War, 1939-1945 -- Europe.

Series Descriptions and Folder Listing

 
boxfolder
11Correspondence - James Williams
 
12Correspondence - J.H. Williams to James Williams, 1943-1945
 
13Correspondence - Mrs. J.H. Williams to James Williams, 1943-1945
 
14Correspondence - Sarah Williams to James Williams, 1943-1945
 
15Correspondence - Constan deHert and family to James Williams, 1945,1979
 
16Correspondence - J. Craig Williams, 1986, 2014
 
17Clippings, copy of Scuttlebutt
 
18Scrapbook pages with photographs, ephemera
 
19Printed material, ephemera - WWII
 
110Photographs
 
111Discharge papers, POW documentation, Disability application
 
112Unit research, history
 
113Certificates, unit crest
 
114Memorial book - James Williams, 1978