Crew 30

61st Squadron
S/Sgt James W. Wyckoff

Right Gunner

Hospital, Cortland, New YorkRaised on family homestead of 80 acres. Farm located about 5 miles from Interlaken on deer lick springs road, eldest son with 4 younger brothers and 4 younger sisters, shared family responsibilities at an early age.

Married Elizabeth Mary Kinne, August 19, 1946 at Holy Cross. They 5 children, 17 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren.

Formal Education: Received high school diploma, January 1944 Regents diploma completed 1946 Certificate of course completion from Morrisville agriculture and technical school 1948 for 2 years study in Food Technology.

Work Experience: As youth, mowed lawns, weeded flower gardens, worked part time at local hardware store and other odd jobs as available.

1948-49Assistant to plant manager- G.L.F. Food processing plant at Waterloo, New York, - plant closed1949-1951Assistant plant superintendent at Leroy Food Processing Plant of Blue Boy Foods, Inc.1952-198129 ½ Years employed at Seneca Army, Romulus, N.Y., in various supervisory positions i.e. 16 years transportation, 8 years Installation Equipment Division as Production comptroller, Budgets and Cost Effectiveness Manager for the Division and Directorate, retired January 2, 19811982-1987Manager of New Start Senior Citizen Housing Project at Verona Village, Ovid, New York. This was a HUD low-income housing project. Retired July 1987.1957Purchased 60 acres and have been homesteading livestock, poultry, potatoes and other vegetables. I am still doing the work.

Volunteer work: 7 years 4-H leader, 3 years coordinator of local St Judes Children hospital bike-a-thon, 5 years part time senior citizen bus driver. Transported food from house of concern and Catholic Charities at Seneca Falls, New York to food pantry at Federated Church, Ovid, New York for 1 ½ Years without renumeration.

Military Service: Veteran of US Army Air Corps Service dates: 10 Feb 44 to 24 Nov 45. Flew as right gunner/scanner on B-29 Superfortress (P-30) from Guam to Japan for 25 missions. Decorations received; Good Conduct, Asiatic-Pacific Ribbon, Purple Heart, Distinguished Flying Cross, and Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters. Honorably Discharged on 24 Nov 45.

Fraternal: 40 years member of American Legion; 8 years as Post Commander, 1 year as Seneca county commander. Elected to 7th District Commander 1992.

Served a number of years as Seneca County Boy's State Chairman, County Legion Treasurer.

20 years as Manning-Lilla post Boy's State Chair and Veteran Service officer. Life membership awarded 1974.

Jim and Betty Wyckoff in Wichita, KS 2001

Organizer and President of 39th Bomb Group Association. Past Vice- President of the 20th Air Force Association.

Member of Arthur G. Depew Memorial VFW Post 6200, life member

Served as Service Officer for National Assoc. Of Retired Federal Employees Chapter 1620 for 4 years, life member

1998 assumed position as advisor to Morrisville College Alumni Board 2001 Elected as member of the College Alumni Board of Directors Received award as distinguished alumni member at annual Come Back Day 2001

Political: Registered Democrat Served as Town and County Chairperson 12 Years Town of Romulus Council Person.

Religion: Practicing Roman Catholic, Holy Cross Church, Ovid, New York

Hobbies: Gardening, crafts, fishing and helping people out

We have 5 children. Our kids, their kids and their kids are from NY, VA, FL, TX, MN and CA. What a trip if we ever try to visit them all!

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James W. Wyckoff took his final flight 4 October 2006 at the age of 80 yrs old. Services were held 9 Oct 2006 at Holy Cross Catholic Church. He buried at the family's plot in Ovid Union Cemetery.