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James Chafin

WWII | 370th Bomb Squadron, 307th Bomb Group, 13th Air Force

It was early in the tour for James Chafin's crew when his pilot suffered a mental breakdown. He was immediately shipped out because flying a B-24 requires a steady hand and mind. The gunner points out that, since they were all volunteers, they could request not to fly anymore. (This interview made possible with the support of MSG RONALD M. CAREY, U.S.A. (RET).) (2:46)
B-24 gunner James Chafin says that the Japanese fighter planes had the edge in terms of maneuverability, but that ours had the advantage in speed. This was due to a fundamental difference in philosophy. (This interview made possible with the support of MSG RONALD M. CAREY, U.S.A. (RET).) (1:43)
On leave in Sydney, B-24 gunner James Chafin and his buddy Mac went to a place where they heard they could find girls. That didn't work out so well but they met some nicer girls a couple of days later. That presented some problems as well. (This interview made possible with the support of MSG RONALD M. CAREY, U.S.A. (RET).) (5:07)
The bomber crews were playing basketball between missions and James Chafin learned a valuable lesson after an argument on the court. (This interview made possible with the support of MSG RONALD M. CAREY, U.S.A. (RET).) (1:43)
There were several takeoffs where the crew wondered if they were going to get off the ground. B-24 gunner James Chafin describes two near disastrous takeoffs and one equally scary landing. (This interview made possible with the support of MSG RONALD M. CAREY, U.S.A. (RET).) (3:30)
When you attack naval vessels on a bombing run, the amount of anti-aircraft fire can be overwhelming. B-24 gunner James Chafin felt, after his most dangerous mission, that the Man upstairs had saved him for a higher purpose. This helped him face the strain of postwar life, something the rest of the crew was unable to do. (This interview made possible with the support of MSG RONALD M. CAREY, U.S.A. (RET).) (3:21)
Corregidor and Japanese installations around Manila were main targets for James Chafin's B-24 squadron. On one flight, they did a flyover of the prison camp where the survivors of the Bataan Death March were held. The Articles of War were ingrained in the Americans during their training. Why was the enemy ignoring these rules? (This interview made possible with the support of MSG RONALD M. CAREY, U.S.A. (RET).) (4:41)
James Chafin never smoked, never drank, until he went overseas. A cigarette may have been the reason he woke up with his mosquito netting on fire one night. At least he didn't face the wildlife that one of his crew mates found in his bed. (This interview made possible with the support of MSG RONALD M. CAREY, U.S.A. (RET).) (2:15)
If one of the B-24's in his squadron was shot down, the others would fly a search pattern and try to find it, James Chafin's plane never had any luck at this. They nearly had a crash of their own when they landed to refuel with a full bomb load. He carried something from his mom in a vest pocket that gave him great comfort. (This interview made possible with the support of MSG RONALD M. CAREY, U.S.A. (RET).) (5:23)
As the armorer on a B-24, one of James Chafin's duties was to pull a pin on each bomb that armed them before they dropped. One time he couldn't get one of them out, so that particular bomb went down as a dud. It turns out that it still did it's job. (This interview made possible with the support of MSG RONALD M. CAREY, U.S.A. (RET).) (1:36)