James P. Merriman was born on June 25, 1922, in Sweetwater, Texas. His family moved to Lubbock, Texas, where Jim played football on the for the Lubbock High School Westerners and helped win the school’s first state title in 1939. After two years at Texas Tech, Jim became a Naval Aviation Cadet, and after finishing flight school, joined the US Marine Corps. He was assigned to VMB-413, the first Marine Corps medium bomber squadron, where he flew the PBJ (B-25) Mitchell bomber. He served the entire war with VMB-413, flying 31 missions both as co-pilot and pilot.

On July 29, 1944, Jim and his crew were participating in a mission over Rabaul, when Japanese anti-aircraft fire damaged their right engine. With no hydraulic pressure, they were forced to ditch in the Pacific Ocean. Jim is credited with swimming back to the sinking plane, and saving the life of one of the crew members, Tommy Thomas. After two hours in the water, the crew was picked up by a PBY Catalina flying boat piloted by Nathan Gordon (who would soon be awarded the Medal of Honor for a rescue he had flown earlier that year), and returned to their squadron. In his interview, Mr. Merriman also describes attacking the Japanese ship Kahili Maru, for which his crew received a commendation from COMAIRSOLS.

Jim left the Marine Corps as a Captain. Nearly 50 years after the war ended, in 1994, Jim was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal. He passed away in 2018, at the age of 96.

United States Marine Corps, WWII

A note on this interview - because this was one of the first I recorded, the sound quality is lacking. You will hear background noises, voices, and some variation in sound quality. As it stands though, my time spent with Jim remains some of my favorite. He was one of the first to welcome me into his home and let me record his stories. I’m very proud to say he was my friend. Enjoy his story!

The Millington-Merriman Crew

Jim Merriman is on the far right. Second from right, standing, is Bob Millington, the pilot. This photo was taken immediately after the crew was picked up after hours floating in the Pacific.