World War II pilot finally comes home
The family of 2LT James Litherland watches as a military honor guard carries the casket at the start of a service at Wildwood Cemetary in Williamsport, Sept. 9, 2023. Litherland was the co-pilot of a B-17 that was shot down over France during WWII near the city of Le Translay after his plane participated on a bombing raid on a V-2 rocket site. Litherland’s dog tag was located and remains exhumed from a French cemetary after positive identification from the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency in 2022. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Suzanne Walker, the daughter of 2LT James Litherland, accepts the American Flag which is folded thirteen times, at the start of a service at Wildwood Cemetary in Williamsport, Sept. 9, 2023. Walker was born the day her father James died during WWII while on a bombing raid over France. Litherland was the co-pilot of a B-17 that was shot down over France during WWII near the city of Le Translay after his plane participated on a bombing raid on a V-2 rocket site. Litherland’s dog tag was located and remains exhumed from a French cemetary after positive identification from the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency in 2022. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
A military honor guard stands at attention as the casket of 2LT James Litherland arrives at the start of a service at Wildwood Cemetary in Williamsport, Sept. 9, 2023. Litherland was the co-pilot of a B-17 that was shot down over France during WWII near the city of Le Translay after his plane participated on a bombing raid on a V-2 rocket site. Litherland’s dog tag was located and remains exhumed from a French cemetary after positive identification from the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency in 2022. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
A military honor guard marches together during the service for 2LT James Litherland at Wildwood Cemetary in Williamsport, Sept. 9, 2023. Litherland was the co-pilot of a B-17 that was shot down over France during WWII near the city of Le Translay after his plane participated on a bombing raid on a V-2 rocket site. Litherland’s dog tag was located and remains exhumed from a French cemetary after positive identification from the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency in 2022. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
A military honor guard processes past the graves of the Litherland family during the service for 2LT James Litherland at Wildwood Cemetary in Williamsport, Sept. 9, 2023. Litherland was the co-pilot of a B-17 that was shot down over France during WWII near the city of Le Translay after his plane participated on a bombing raid on a V-2 rocket site. Litherland’s dog tag was located and remains exhumed from a French cemetary after positive identification from the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency in 2022. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Suzanne Walker, the daughter of 2LT James Litherland, looks at the family gravesite at the start of a service at Wildwood Cemetary in Williamsport, Sept. 9, 2023. Walker was born the day her father James died during WWII while on a bombing raid over France. Litherland was the co-pilot of a B-17 that was shot down over France during WWII near the city of Le Translay after his plane participated on a bombing raid on a V-2 rocket site. Litherland’s dog tag was located and remains exhumed from a French cemetary after positive identification from the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency in 2022. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
A small American flag flies over the grave stones of 2LT James Litherland at the start of a service at Wildwood Cemetary in Williamsport, Sept. 9, 2023. Litherland was the co-pilot of a B-17 that was shot down over France during WWII near the city of Le Translay after his plane participated on a bombing raid on a V-2 rocket site. Litherland’s dog tag was located and remains exhumed from a French cemetary after positive identification from the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency in 2022. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
The family of 2LT James Litherland watches as a military honor guard carries the casket at the start of a service at Wildwood Cemetary in Williamsport, Sept. 9, 2023. Litherland was the co-pilot of a B-17 that was shot down over France during WWII near the city of Le Translay after his plane participated on a bombing raid on a V-2 rocket site. Litherland’s dog tag was located and remains exhumed from a French cemetary after positive identification from the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency in 2022. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Suzanne Walker, the daughter of 2LT James Litherland, accepts the American Flag which is folded thirteen times, at the start of a service at Wildwood Cemetary in Williamsport, Sept. 9, 2023. Walker was born the day her father James died during WWII while on a bombing raid over France. Litherland was the co-pilot of a B-17 that was shot down over France during WWII near the city of Le Translay after his plane participated on a bombing raid on a V-2 rocket site. Litherland’s dog tag was located and remains exhumed from a French cemetary after positive identification from the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency in 2022. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
A military honor guard stands at attention as the casket of 2LT James Litherland arrives at the start of a service at Wildwood Cemetary in Williamsport, Sept. 9, 2023. Litherland was the co-pilot of a B-17 that was shot down over France during WWII near the city of Le Translay after his plane participated on a bombing raid on a V-2 rocket site. Litherland’s dog tag was located and remains exhumed from a French cemetary after positive identification from the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency in 2022. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
A military honor guard marches together during the service for 2LT James Litherland at Wildwood Cemetary in Williamsport, Sept. 9, 2023. Litherland was the co-pilot of a B-17 that was shot down over France during WWII near the city of Le Translay after his plane participated on a bombing raid on a V-2 rocket site. Litherland’s dog tag was located and remains exhumed from a French cemetary after positive identification from the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency in 2022. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
A military honor guard processes past the graves of the Litherland family during the service for 2LT James Litherland at Wildwood Cemetary in Williamsport, Sept. 9, 2023. Litherland was the co-pilot of a B-17 that was shot down over France during WWII near the city of Le Translay after his plane participated on a bombing raid on a V-2 rocket site. Litherland’s dog tag was located and remains exhumed from a French cemetary after positive identification from the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency in 2022. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Suzanne Walker, the daughter of 2LT James Litherland, looks at the family gravesite at the start of a service at Wildwood Cemetary in Williamsport, Sept. 9, 2023. Walker was born the day her father James died during WWII while on a bombing raid over France. Litherland was the co-pilot of a B-17 that was shot down over France during WWII near the city of Le Translay after his plane participated on a bombing raid on a V-2 rocket site. Litherland’s dog tag was located and remains exhumed from a French cemetary after positive identification from the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency in 2022. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
A small American flag flies over the grave stones of 2LT James Litherland at the start of a service at Wildwood Cemetary in Williamsport, Sept. 9, 2023. Litherland was the co-pilot of a B-17 that was shot down over France during WWII near the city of Le Translay after his plane participated on a bombing raid on a V-2 rocket site. Litherland’s dog tag was located and remains exhumed from a French cemetary after positive identification from the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency in 2022. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
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U.S. Army Air Forces 2nd Lt. James Litherland, who gave the ultimate sacrifice in service of his country, has arrived home - to his final resting spot in Wildwood Cemetery, Williamsport.
A solemn and simple military ceremony before a gathering of many family members marked the graveside services Saturday.
Litherland, 25, a native of South Williamsport, was co-piloting a B-17F Flying Fortress when it crashed after being hit by enemy anti-aircraft fire Feb. 28, 1944.
He was part of an air crew participating in a bombing raid on a German V-2 rocket site in Bois-Coquerel, France.
Three airmen parachuted safety prior to the plane crash while seven other crew members, including Litherland remained on board.
"He was shot down the day I was born," his daughter, Suzanne Walker, said.
She was on hand for the graveside service at the Litherland family plot on a shady hillside of the cemetery where Litherland's remains are interred.
The whereabouts of Litherland remained a mystery for more than 75 years.
In 1945 investigators reviewing German documents found that six sets of remains recovered near the crash site were buried March 1944 in the English World War I Memorial Cemetery at Abbeville, France, according to Army officials.
Those remains were disinterred and reburied in the United States Military Cemetery at St. Andre, France a year later. The one set that could not be identified was designated as X-452 St. Andre and was eventually transferred to the Suresnes American Cemetery, France.
In March 1947, investigators identified X-452 as being associated with Litherland but were unable to make a positive identification and he was declared non-recoverable three years later.
In 2019, X-452 St. Andre was exhumed and the remains, along with material evidence and additional remains recovered from the crash site two years earlier, were sent to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency laboratory at Offutt Air Force Base for analysis.
Litherland was officially accounted earlier this year when his remains were identified using dental, anthropological, mitochondrial DNA, and autosomal DNA analysis.
His daughter said she is thankful that there is now closure for the family.
She recalled the grief her mother experienced in the years following his death.
"The most important thing is honoring his name," she said.
Army Capt. Chaplain Matthew Lower told the gathering that Litherland served with distinction as a member of the 359th Squadron, 303rd Bombardment Group.
Among the many accommodations he earned were the World War II Victory Medal and the Purple Heart.
"He literally shed his blood," Lower said.
He noted that Litherland was more than a pilot, but also a family man, husband, and outdoorsman.
He was the son of James Litherland Jr. and Elizabeth Dimmock Litherland.
A graduate of South Williamsport High School, Litherland enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1942 as an aviation cadet. He received his commission in 1943 and that year married Wilma Jane Wurster, of South Williamsport.
In November 1943, he was deployed to Molesworth Air Base, England.
The graveside memorial service was marked by the playing of Taps and a military rifle salute.
A special citation from the Lycoming County Commissioners honoring Litherland was presented at the close of the ceremony.
"As a community, we remember him," Michael McMunn, director of Lycoming County Veterans Affairs, said.