James Gordon Dennis

James Gordon Dennis was a U.S. flight lieutenant shot down over Berlin in May 1944, who was murdered in the open street by propaganda ministry official Alfred Ingemar Berndt after Dennis had parachuted and was captured.

Early Years
Born in Globe, Arizona, Dennis attended the Globe schools, starring as a football and basketball player while a student at Globe High School. After his graduation from high school he attended the University of Arizona and the Arizona State Teachers College at Tempe.

Military
Enlisting In the glider corps in June 1942, Dennis received his glider wings in March 1943 at Stuttgart, Arkansas. He then joined the air force for pilot training. He received his commission at George Field, Illinois, November 3, 1943. At Salt Lake City he received his assignment for combat training at Dalhart, Texas. Completing his training there, 16 February 1944, he was sent to England. While In the air force, he received the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Clusters. He was co-pilot in the crew of the B-17 #42-31941 "Big Stoop" during a mission to bomb Berlin. The plane was shot down by enemy fighters west of Bückwitz Lake. Eight crew members were taken prisoner, and two were killed. On Sept. 7, 1944, the War Department received word through the International Red Cross that Lieutenant Dennis was killed in action over Berlin on May 24. He had formerly been reported as missing. Propaganda ministry official Alfred Ingemar Berndt murdered Dennis after Dennis had parachuted from his plane and was captured.

Murdered as prisoner of war
In late spring 1944, the leaders of Nazi Germany devised a plan to lynch captured Allied airmen. Joseph Goebbels talked about the matter with Hitler. On 25 May 1944 in the Völkischer Beobachter, the propaganda minister published an article which stated that the government would not act against anyone lynching Allied airmen who had fired on civilians. Goebbels hoped that this article would set off a massive hunt for Allied pilots and deter airmen from flying missions against Germany. The result was 350 lynchings of Allied airmen. On 24 May 1944, just before the Western Allies landed in Normandy (Operation Overlord), Alfred Ingemar Berndt halted his car where captured Flight Lieutenant Dennis was being held, and shot him dead in the street. The murder took place on Hamburger Chaussee in Segeletz

Burial
Lieutenant Dennis was initially buried at Friedhof Segeletz on 26 May 1944. His remains were later interred at the Ardennes American Cemetery and Memorial.

External links: James Gordon Dennis

 * 24.05.1944 350th Bomber Squadron B-17G 42-31941 'Big Stoop' on aircrewremembered.com
 * James Gordon Dennis on honorstates.org
 * James G. Dennis on fieldsofhonor-database.com