Lt. James B. McGovern, Jr., fighter pilot, 118th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 23rd Fighter Group, 14th Army Air Force, China, 1944-1945
Editor's note: I have completely re-accomplished this section from my original report of November 2006. That report was largely incorrect. I am quite confident about the accuracy here, though corrections are always welcome. The story below will be contrary to other renditions you read elsewhere. Thanks to all who helped me, especially Bob Bourlier, Wayne Johnson, and Chris Davis.
Aviation Cadet James B. McGovern, US Army Air Corps.
James Bernard McGovern, Jr. was born in February 4, 1922 in Elizabeth, New Jersey. He graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School, trained as an aircraft maintenance technician at Casey Jones School of Aviation, and worked at Wright Aircraft Engineering Co. in Patterson, NJ. His life-long ambition was to be a pilot. He spent much time watching airplanes and built many model airplanes starting as a young boy. He enlisted in the aviation cadet program in early 1942, at the beginning of WWII. The aviation cadet program in those days is most interesting. I wrote an article about one pilot, Gerald Wergin of Wausau, Wisconsin, who went through it, entitled, "From Wausau High to fighter pilot wailing a Banshee over Burma, Training to be a fighter pilot for WWII," December 15, 2005. It is amazing how many different aircraft these cadets had to learn to fly.
McGovern completed all his flight and Army training in the US and was commissioned a second lieutenant, Army Air Force.
Following his training in the US, 2nd Lt McGovern was sent to the China-Burma-India (CB) theater of WWII, arriving in India in the fall 1944. It was normal procedure for these pilots to get some flying and familiarization training time at Landi Field, Karachi, India before going to their operational unit. Landi hosted the CBI Air Forces Training Command and the CBI Fighter Replacement Training Unit.
Following his training in Karachi, 2nd Lt. McGovern was assigned to the 118th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (TRS) in China, arriving there in early November 1944.
The combat echelon of the squadron at that time was based at Liuchow, China while the command elements were located more to the rear at Chengkung.
That part of WWII that was fought in the China-Burma-India Theater (CBI) is fascinating, complex, and not well known or understood by many. There is a lot to learn about the CBI, and there is intense political intrigue and jousting through which to delve. The study is fascinating. I have written some articles about it, perhaps the one with the best historical perspective being "Burma Banshees, 'Angels on our Wings,' the call of death to the enemy." This is told, however, from the vantage of a fighter squadron operating on the other side of the Himalayas in India and Burma.
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