James (Jimmie) E. Mauzy was born on 27 May 1923 in Omaha, Nebraska.  He was the son of James G. and Alpha G. Mauzy of Plattsmouth, Nebraska. His father and mother owned a pharmacy, and Jimmie was an only child.  Jimmie attended the University of Nebraska for two years where he was a member of the Alpha Tao Omega Fraternity.  However, he left the university to join United States Army Air Forces on 22 February 1943. He was assigned to the 421stBomb Squadron of the 305thBomb Group where he served as the Bombardier for a B-17 Flying Fortress that was piloted by Darrel V. Betz.  On 16 August 1944, the crew was on a mission to bomb an airfield near Bohlen  in Germany.  On route to the target, the bomber was hit by anti-aircraft fire that disabled the cotrols.  It went into a spin and crashed at Vollradisroda, Germany.  Fire enveloped the bomber, and the full load of bombs on board exploded. Only the pilot survived.

Jimmie was an only child.  In correspondence with the US Army in 1946, his mother reported that his father became so distraught after learning of his son’s death that he suffered from heart trouble.  Fourteen months after his son’s death, James G. Mauzy died of a broken heart.  The crew’s Ball Turret Gunner, William D Dunn, its Tail Gunner, Joseph B. Michalski, and its Top Turret Gunner, Richard D O’Brien are also buried at the Ardennes American Cemetery.

Information from the IDPF of James E. Mauzy, a University of Nebraska Yearbook provided by Erwin Derhaag, and from the Lincoln Star, 24 October 1944, p. 4.