Jim Cooper

Last Name:` COOPER	First Name Middle Initial: JAMES R		Nick Name: 'COOP'
Street: PO BOX 65	City & State: DOUGLAS, AZ		E-Mail:
Zip: 85608	Phone:		Spouse: BETTY
Conflict: WWII	Service Branch: Army Air Corp		Unit: 8 AF 448 BG
Theater: ETO	Where Captured: HOLLAND		Date Captured: 06/29/44
Camps Held In: Stalag Luft III, Stalag VIIA			How Long Interned: 304 days
Liberated / repatriated: liberated	Date Liberated: 04/29/45		Age at Capture: 28
Medals Received: Air Medal, POW Medal Campaign Medal
Military Job: 2nd Lt. Capt.		Company: Cananea Copper Co.
Occupation after War: Metallurgy Eng.

Bio:

James R. (Jim) Cooper: Born May 18, 1916, Hubbell, MI. Mr. Cooper has a B.S. in Metallurgical Engineering 1939, Michigan Tech. I married Alice E. (Betty) Cavender in Globe AZ, April 26, 1942. I have 3 sons and 1 daughter.

I worked for Arizona mining companies for 4 years (1939-1943; 1946-1947), interrupted by military service, 1943-1945. I enlisted in the Army Air Force, as an aviation cadet. I trained in Santa Ana, CA: Las Vegas, NV (gunnery); and Houston, TX (Ellington Field).

I completed 12 ½ missions with the 712th Squadron, 448th Bomb Group, 8th Air Force, as a navigator. I was shot down and crash-landed in Holland on June 29, 1944. Our target was Bernburg, but we were hit on our third pass over Magdeburg, after dropping bombs on target. Situation normal.

After interrogation at Dulag Luft, we went to Stalag Luft III, until the end of January 1945. Then we were evacuated to Moosberg, Germany, first marching, then in crowded boxcars. We were liberated April 29, 1945.

I worked for more than thirty years for mining companies in Mexico. Since 1978, I have worked as a consultant in Mexico and the western United States.

I am an author and co-author of technical paper in English and Spanish. I am also the holder of process patent. I presently reside in Douglas, AZ