Lackland Air Force Base in Bexar County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Staff Sergeant James A. Moran
C-47 ...an enlisted story.
Photographed by James Hulse, August 16, 2024
1. Staff Sergeant James A. Moran Marker
Inscription.
Staff Sergeant James A. Moran. C-47 ...an enlisted story.. James Moran was one of many who flocked to recruiting offices in the weeks following the attack on Pearl Harbor. He lied about his age to "go fight the war". Moran envisioned himself blasting the enemy from the skies as a gunner aboard a B-17, but the Army Air Corps had different plans. He became a radio operator aboard the C-47 Skytrain, the military version of the Douglas DC-3. Although this troop and cargo transport was not normally considered a combat aircraft, Sergeant Moran took his share of fire from both friend and foe. When the 17th Troop Carrier Squadron dropped paratroops in Algeria during Operation Torch in November 1942, they took ground fire from Allied gunners. Eight months later there was a similar, but more devastating incident during the invasion of Sicily. The 50th Troop Carrier Wing lost 27 aircraft along with hundreds of paratroopers and crewmembers. Sergeant Moran was awarded the first of two Air Medals for this action.
James Moran was one of many who flocked to recruiting offices in the weeks following the attack on Pearl Harbor. He lied about his age to "go fight the war". Moran envisioned himself blasting the enemy from the skies as a gunner aboard a B-17, but the Army Air Corps had different plans. He became a radio operator aboard the C-47 Skytrain, the military version of the Douglas DC-3. Although this troop and cargo transport was not normally considered a combat aircraft, Sergeant Moran took his share of fire from both friend and foe. When the 17th Troop Carrier Squadron dropped paratroops in Algeria during Operation Torch in November 1942, they took ground fire from Allied gunners. Eight months later there was a similar, but more devastating incident during the invasion of Sicily. The 50th Troop Carrier Wing lost 27 aircraft along with hundreds of paratroopers and crewmembers. Sergeant Moran was awarded the first of two Air Medals for this action.
Erected by USAF Heritage Program Collection.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • War, World II. A significant historical month for this entry is November 1942.
Location. 29° 23.454′ N,
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98° 37.062′ W. Marker is in Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, in Bexar County. It is on Bong Avenue south of Luke Blvd. The marker is located at the USAF Airman Heritage Museums Air Park which is around the parade grounds. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Jbsa Lackland TX 78236, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in South Texas and in the San Antonio Metropolitan Area. It is also in the American South. Globally, it is in North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain, the Republic of Texas, and one of the Confederate States of America.
More about this marker. The marker, museum and air park are located on the Lackland Air Force Base, an active U.S. military installation which is a part of the Joint Base San Antonio (JBSA). The USAF Airman Heritage Museum and Air Park are open to the public, but appropriate identification is required for access. Visit the museums web site for current details on visiting the museum and air park.
Also see . . . Airmen Heritage Training Complex. USAF Airman Heritage Museum (Submitted on August 28, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)
Credits. This page was last revised on August 28, 2024. It was originally submitted on August 27, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 253 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on August 28, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.
