lest we forget

OXLEY, JAMES EDWARD

Rank / Branch:

  • MAJOR, U.S. AIR FORCE

Date Of Birth:

  • 1925-04-28

Country Of Loss:

  • SOUTH VIETNAM

Status:

  • HOSTILE, CRASH

Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground:​

  • B-57

Other:

  • MARRIED

Unit:

  • 7TH AIR FORCE

Date Of Loss:

  • 1967-04-22

Loss Coordinates:

  • LONG AN

Catagory:

  • BODY RETURNED

Awards & Decorations:

  • SEE BIO

VETERAN HAGI0GRAPHY

  • OXLEY, JAMES EDWARD, MAJOR, U.S. AIR FORCE, BIG SPRING, HOWARD COUNTY, TEXAS

AWARDS AND DECORATIONS

  • SENIOR AIR FORCE WINGS WITH STAR, DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS, AIR MEDAL WITH V DEVICE AND ONE GOLD, ONE SILVER AND TWO OAKL LEAF CLUSTERS,, PURPLE HEART, AIR FORCE COMMENATIONS MEDAL, AIR FORCE ACHIEVEMENT MEDAL, NATIONAL DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, WORLD WAR 2 OCCUPATION MEDAL (GERMANY). WORLD WAR 2 VICTORY MEDAL, UNITED NATION'S EXPEDIENTARY MEDAL (KOREA), VIETNAM SERVICE MEDAL, VIETNAM MILITARY MERIT MEDAL, VIETNAM CROSS OF GALLANTRY WITH PALM, VIETNAM CAMPAIGN MEDAL

BIOGRAPHY

  • James Oxley was born in Kansas City, Missouri and was raised in Winslow, Arizona. He enlisted in the Army Air Corp in 1944 during World War II. He was a twenty-four-year veteran of the U.S. Air Force. He flew 44 missions during the Korean War and lost one aircraft. After the Korean War, he married and fathered four children.
  • He served at Kelly Air Force Base in San Antonio, three different tours in Denver, Colorado and he had spent three years in Germany. He served at Laredo Air Force Base and was an exchange officer with the U.S. Navy at Pensacola, Florida before assuming the Operation's Officer assignment at Webb Air Force Base in 1964. While at Webb, he and his wife were very involved in the Big Spring community, as well as activities at Webb AFB.
  • When he departed for Vietnam, his wife and family remained in Big Spring. His tour began May 5, 1966, and he was assigned to the 13th Bomb Squadron, 35th Tactical Fighter Wing, 7th Air Force. He was originally sent over to fly the F-100 but was reassigned to fly the B-57. He belly landed a B-57 at Clark Air Force Base, Philippines after the aircraft was damaged from hostile fire in Vietnam in March 1967. On April 22, 1967, he was the pilot of a B-57B tail number 53-3859. He and his co-pilot were flying a close air support mission about 15 miles southwest of Saigon, flying strafing missions, as a part of a three aircraft operation. His aircraft was hit by ground fire, and the tailing aircraft radioed that their aircraft was on fire and one wing was badly damaged. Major Oxley and his co- pilot then ejected. Major Oxley's chute failed to open. The co-pilot survived and was picked up by rescue aircraft.
  • He was buried with full military honors at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas. He was survived by his wife, his children, James Dale-15, Linda Jean-14, Gary Stephen-13, and Beverly Ann-12, all living in Big Spring. He was also survived by his parents Mr. and Mrs. Art Oxley of Winslow, Arizona.
  • FORT SAM HOUSTON NATIONAL CEMETERY, SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS
  • B-57 CANBERRA