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OXLEY, JAMES EDWARD
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Casualty
Record
Name:
OXLEY, JAMES EDWARD
Rank / Branch:
MAJOR, U.S. AIR FORCE
Date of Birth:
1925-04-28
Country
of Loss:
SOUTH VIETNAM
Loss
Coordinates:
LONG AN
Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground:
B-57B
Awards & Decorations:
SEE BIO
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Veteran
Hagiography
JAMES EDWARD OXLEY, MAJOR, U.S. AIR FORCE, BIG SPRING, HOWARD COUNTY, TEXAS
AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:
Air Force Pilot Wings with Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with "V" device and 17 Oakleaf Clusters, Purple Heart, Air Force Commendation's Medal, Air Force Achievemtn Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, United Nation's Expeditionary Medal (Korea), World War II European Occupation Medal (Germany), World War Victory Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal
BIOGRAPHY James Oxley was born in Kansas City, Missouri and was raised in Winslow, Arizona. He enlisted in the Army Air Corp in 1944 during World War II. He was a twenty four year veteran of the U.S. Air Force. He flew 44 missions during the Korean War and lost one aircraft. After the Korean War, he married and fathered four children. He served at Kelly Air Force Base in San Antonio, three different tours in Denver, Colorado and he had spent three years in Germany. He served at Laredo Air Force Base and was an exchange officer with the U.S. Navy at Pensacola, Flordia before assuming the Operation's Officer assignment at Webb Air Force Base in 1964. While at Webb, he and his wife were very involved in the Big Spring community, as well as activities at Webb AFB. . When he departed for Vietnam, his wife and family remained in Big Spring. His tour began May 5, 1966 and he was assigned to the 13th Bomb Squadron, 35th Tactical Fighter Wing, 7th Air Force. He was originally sent over to fly the F-100, but was reassigned to fly the B57. He belly landed a B57 at Clark Air Force Base, Phillipines after the aircraft was damaged from hostile fire in Vietnam in March, 1967. On April 22, 1967, he was the pilot of a B-57B tail number 53-3859. He and his co-pilot were flying a close air support mission abut 15 miles southweste of Saigon, flying straffing missions, as a part of a three aircraft operation. His aircraft was hit by ground fire, and the tailing aircraft radioed that their aircraft was on fire and one wing was badly damaged. Major Oxley and his co- pilot then ejected. Major Oxley's chute failed to open. The co-pilot survived and was picked up by rescue aircraft. He was buried with full military honors at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas. He was survived by his wife, his children, James Dale-15, Linda Jean-14, Gary Stephen-13, and Beverly Ann-12, all living in Big Spring. He was also survived by his parents Mr and Mrs. Art Oxley of Winslow, Arizona. 
Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, San Antonio, Texas VIRTUAL WALL
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