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Contact Info
Home Town Crystal Springs, Mississippi
Last Address Arlington, Texas
Date of Passing Aug 18, 2008
Location of Interment Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery (VA) - Dallas, Texas
Wall/Plot Coordinates Section Col-B, Row CT1, Site C90
He was credited with destroying 12 enemy aircraft plus 1 probable in aerial combat during WWII.
His DSC citation: Awarded for actions during World War II The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Captain (Air Corps) James A. Watkins (ASN: 0-427786), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a P-40 Fighter Airplane in the 9th Fighter Squadron, 49th Fighter Group, FIFTH Air Force, in action over New Guinea on 26 July 1943. Captain Watkins, leading one of three four-ship flights on a mission north of Lae, sighted an enemy formation of twenty planes. He immediately signaled for attack, and of two enemy planes approaching him head on, he shot one down. After regaining altitude, he dove on two of the enemy which were attacking one of our planes. With superb marksmanship, he sent one of these down in flames. Two other enemy fighters then attacked him from the front, and he shot down the first. Having gained altitude again, and maneuvering with great skill, he attacked still another plane and destroyed it. In this action in which the enemy had numerical superiority of more than two to one, the flight led by Captain Watkins destroyed six enemy planes without loss, and he personally, by his boldness in attack and his brilliant shooting, accounted for four enemy planes.
General Orders: Headquarters, U.S. Army Forces in the Far East, General Orders No. 62 (1943)
WWII - Pacific Theater of Operations/Central Pacific Campaign (1941-43)
From Month/Year
December / 1941
To Month/Year
December / 1943
Description (Central Pacific Campaign 7 December 1941 to 6 December 1943) The war in the Central Pacific began with the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941. Six months later an AAF task force took part in the Battle of Midway, in which a great Japanese fleet was defeated. But another year and a half elapsed before American forces began an offensive against Japanese positions in the Central Pacific. It was then, on 20 November 1943, that landings were made in the Gilberts, on Makin and Tarawa, with the Marines at the latter place becoming engaged in one of the bloodiest battles of the war.
