James B Aageberg was born on 1 September 1918.  He grew up in Hammond, Indiana.  He attended Hammond High School, where he played football and was active in the Hi-Y club.  He was married to Mabel (Robbins) Aageberg.  James entered the Aviation Cadet Program on 7 November 1942, and became the pilot of a P-47 Thunderbolt fighter bomber nicknamed the “Sweepsteak.”  On 21 January 1945, James led four other P-47’s on attack on some German vehicles near St. Vith.  After making several passes over the target, his plane was hit by anti-aircraft fire.  Aageberg ejected from the aircraft.  However, his parachute did not deploy properly, and he fell to his death at Burtonville, just to the east of Vielsham in Belgium.

Sources:

• Hammond High School Yearbook Dunes 1936
• ancestory.com
• http://ardennesavions45.blogspot.be/search/label/P-47%20AAGEBERG%20à%20Burtonville