COOPER

Bio Image

Personal Details

  • Last Name: COOPER
  • First Name Middle Initial: JAMES R
  • Nick Name: 'COOP'
  • Street:  PO BOX 65
  • Country &State:
  • City:
  • State:  DOUGLAS, AZ
  • Postal Code: 85608
  • Phone:
  • E-Mail: 
  • Spouse: BETTY
  • Age when entered service:
  • Age first entered:
  • War or Conflict: WWII
  • Theater of operations: ETO
  • Year:
  • Branch of Service/s: Army Air Corp
  • Years Served:
  • Date of Discharge / Retirement (circle):
  • Highest Rank: new_value
  • Military MOS (Job Descriptions):
  • What military medals received: Air Medal, POW Medal Campaign Medal
Military Bio:

James R. (Jim) Cooper: Born May 18, 1916, Hubbell, MI. Mr. Cooper has a B.S. in Metallurgical Engineering 1939, Michigan Tech. I married Alice E. (Betty) Cavender in Globe AZ, April 26, 1942. I have 3 sons and 1 daughter. I worked for Arizona mining companies for 4 years (1939-1943; 1946-1947), interrupted by military service, 1943-1945. I enlisted in the Army Air Force, as an aviation cadet. I trained in Santa Ana, CA: Las Vegas, NV (gunnery); and Houston, TX (Ellington Field). I completed 12 ½ missions with the 712th Squadron, 448th Bomb Group, 8th Air Force, as a navigator. I was shot down and crash-landed in Holland on June 29, 1944. Our target was Berburg, but we were hit on our third pass over Magdeburg, after dropping bombs on target. Situation normal. After interrogation at Dulag Luft, we went to Stalag Luft III, until the end of January 1945. Then we were evacuated to Moosberg, Germany, first marching, then in crowded boxcars. We were liberated April 29, 1945. I worked for more than thirty years for mining companies in Mexico. Since 1978, I have worked as a consultant in Mexico and the western United States. I am an author and co-author of technical paper in English and Spanish. I am also the holder of process patent. I presently reside in Douglas, AZ

My Message to Future Generations:

Post Military Occupation

  • Age when captured: 28
  • Date of Captured:
  • Place captured:
  • Camp/s held: Stalag Luft III, Stalag VIIA
  • Date Released:
  • Prisoner-of-war status: Liberated
  • Date of DEATH if deceased: 
  • AGE at death:
  • Died In Combat:
  • Died from complications of combat wounds:
  • Describe below Survivors Include: