Lt. James Friend, Fortress co-pilot, received the air medal for 5 missions over enemy territory from [a] base in England.
Source: The Council Bluffs Nonpareil, Council Bluffs, Wednesday, February 20, 1944, Page 20
MISSING
The war department has notified Mr. and Mrs. James O. Friend, 1517 Avenue H, that their son, Lt. James J. Friend, 21, co-pilot on a B-17, has been missing in action over Germany since Feb. 25. Lt. Friend, a graduate of Thomas Jefferson high school, entered the army in August, 1942, and has been overseas since last October.
Source: The Council Bluffs Nonpareil, Council Bluffs, Wednesday, March 29, 1944, Page 6
Find German Death Record on Pilot
Death of 2nd Lt. James J. Friend, 22, son of Mr. and Mrs. James O. Friend, 902 Avenue F, who was shot down during an air raid over Germany, was confirmed here Wednesday by the war department.
Captured German records reveal Lt. Friend, co-pilot of a B-17, was shot down by enemy anti-aircraft fire on Feb. 25, 1944, over Regensburg, Germany. His body was buried in a Catholic cemetery there.
A graduate of Thomas Jefferson high school in 1941, Lt. Friend was reported “missing in action” on March 17, 1944. He was based with the 8th air force in England.
Source: The Council Bluffs Nonpareil, Council Bluffs, Wednesday, April 17, 1946, Page 4
RETURN BODIES OF 5 COUNTY SOLDIERS
20 Southwest Iowans on Carroll Victory
Bodies of 20 southwest Iowans, including five from Pottawattamie county, have been returned to the United States from Europe aboard the army transport Carroll Victory, the department of the army announced Wednesday.
Three of the county soldiers are from Council Bluffs. They are Maj. John Robert Blaylock, son of County Auditor John F. Blaylock; Cpl. Elmer Reynolds, son of Mrs. Alice P. Carroll, 1223 Twenty-first avenue; and 2nd Lt. James J. Friend, son of Mr. and Mrs. James O. Friend, 902 Avenue F.
Shot Down Over Germany.
Lt. Friend was shot down in a raid over Regensburg, Germany, on March 17, 1944. His body was buried in a Catholic cemetery there. He graduated from Thomas Jefferson high school in 1941, entered the air force in August, 1942. Meyer funeral home will be in charge of arrangements. Surviving are his parents; four brothers, Lester and Donald of Omaha, Pfc. Robert Friend, stationed in California, and Richard, at home; and two sisters, Mrs. D. P. McMillan of Garden City, Kan., and Rosalie Friend, at home.
Other County Soldiers.
The other two county soldiers are Tech. 4/g Jack L. Swanson, son of Mrs. Leorna McKeown, route 1, Honey Creek, and Tech. 4/g James M. Waters, son of William H. Waters of Neola.
Source: The Council Bluffs Nonpareil, Council Bluffs, Wednesday, October 06, 1948, Page 14
Funerals
2nd Lt. James J. Friend
Funeral services for 2nd Lt. James J. Friend, 22, who was killed in action in Regensburg, German, Feb. 25, 1944, will be held at the Meyer mortuary Saturday at 2 p. m. Burial will be in Memorial Park cemetery. The Veterans of Foreign Wars will conduct services at the grave.
2nd Lt. James J. Friend
Funeral services for 2nd Lt. James J. Friend have been postponed from 2 p. m. to 3:30 p. m. Saturday, due to conflicting services of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, who are conducting the rites at the grave.
Source: The Council Bluffs Nonpareil, Council Bluffs, October 20 [Page 13] & 21 [Page 18], 1948
