Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 1 Jan 1920, Salem Ward 4, Marion, Oregon; : 4y; Address:
  1344 Ferry St
• Occupation: 1 Jan 1920, Salem Ward 4, Marion, Oregon; None
• Census: 1 Apr 1930, Portland, Multnomah, Oregon; : 14y; Address:
  435 Montgomery
• Occupation: 1 Apr 1930, Portland, Multnomah, Oregon; None
• Military Begining: 1934
• Education: 1938; Graduated US Military Acadamy, Army Air Corps
• Military: 1939
• Census: 27 Apr 1940, Bexar, Texas; : 26y; Address:
  12 Inner Octagon, Randolph Field
• Occupation: 27 Apr 1940, Bexar, Texas; Amy Officer
• Military: 1941, Texas; Address:
  Randolph Field
• Military: 1 Mar 1942
• Military: 30 Oct 1943
• Military: 31 Oct 1943, Ardmore, Carter Co., Oklahoma; Address:
  Ardmore Army Air Field
• Military: 4 Jan 1944, Grand Island, Nebraska
• Military: 1 Aug 1944
• Military: 7 Oct 1944, European Theater, Germany; Address:
  Stalag Luft 4B (Camp 33)
• Military: 1946
• Newspaper: 7 Sep 1949, Tucson, Arizona; Address:
  Davis-Monthan Air Base
• Newspaper: 17 Dec 1950, Tucson, Arizona
• Military: 1953
• Newspaper: 2 Mar 1953, Omaha, Sharpy, Nebraska
• Newspaper: 4 Mar 1953, Tucson, Arizona

Notes:

Biography
(Shamelessly stolen from Find-a-grave)
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=121828852
Memorial added by user: SLGMSD

USMA Class of 1938. Cullum No. 11222.

On May 1, 1934 as James Rhea Luper, he married Rosalind Price in Yuma County, Arizona, both age 21 years of Los Angeles, California. The marriage was annulled on June 15, 1934. On June 18, 1938, he married Louise Perrine Ryder, daughter of Lieut. Colonel Charles W. Ryder, Commandant of the United States Military Academy, in the chapel at West Point, New York. In 1943 as James R. Luper, he divorced Louise Luper in Dade County, Florida. Both later remarried. On December 24, 1946, Louise Luper (1916-1993) married John Francis King at Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts. On November 23, 1943, he married Rene (Irene) Hiller. In 1954 his widow, Rene Hiller Luper married John Russell Dillon in Polk County, Florida. In May 1956 as Rene G. Luper, she married Walter S. Hardin in Manatee County, Florida.

James Rhea Luper Jr. was the son of James Rhea Luper, a former Oregon state engineer and Eleanor Potter Luper Bouvy. He graduated from Hill Military Academy in Portland and attended the University of Oregon. In 1933, he enlisted in the United States Army. In 1934, he received an appointment to the United States Military Academy from Senator Frederick Steiwer. Upon graduation in 1938 he was assigned to the Army Air Force. After training he remained at Randolph Field to assist in the training of Aviation Cadets. Following assignments included Director of Training and Commandant of Cadets, Army Air Forces Pre-Flight School at Maxwell Field in Alabama; Executive for Training and Operations, Army Air Forces Officer Candidate School and Officer Training School in Miami Beach, Florida.

After dozens of requests he was assigned to a bombardment squadron. His B-17 was the 1,000th Fortress built by the Douglas Aircraft Company at Long Beach, California and was named Rene III in honor of his wife. It was assigned to the 750th Bombardment Squadron. On January 4, 1944 he took over as Commanding officer of the 457th Heavy Bombardment Group. The aircraft left Grand Island, Nebraska on January 17, 1944 flying to the British Isles, arriving at United States Station 130, Glatton between January 21 and February 1, 1944. During World War II, he served 16 months in Europe and flew 20 missions. On October 7, 1944, he led the Fireball Outfit to Politz where his B-17 and was shot down over Stettin, Germany. Seven of the 11 men aboard died. He bailed out at 25,000 feet, landing in Stettin Bay where he was picked up by a German launch after two hours in the water. He escaped from the prison train, but was recaptured after six days. He was sent to Stalag Luft III near Sagan, German where 6,667 other American POWs were held and was liberated on April 29, 1945.

He was the model for the character of Colonel Joseph Ryan played by Frank Sinatra in the movie made from the book Von Ryan's Express by David Westheimer (1917-2005), who was also a POW at Stalag Luft III during World War II. After the war he attended several Service Schools and spent 2 ? years in China where he was Deputy Director of the Air Force Advisory Group. General Curtis LeMay assigned him as Chief of Security, Strategic Air Command. He established a Security School at Camp Carson in Colorado training thousands of officers and airmen. In 1951 he became Deputy Inspector for Security at Strategic Air Command Headquarters in Omaha, Nebraska. Later in the year he was scheduled to be the Air Provost Marshal General assigned at the District of Columbia.

On Saturday, February 28, 1953, he was piloting an Air Force B-26 from Ent Air Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colorado to Offutt Air Force Base near Omaha, Nebraska. The plane was making its final approach with the aid of the Ground Controlled Approach (radar) system when it lost altitude rapidly and crashed about nine miles west of the base near the Platte River. Colonel Luper, Lieut. Colonel George R. Groves of Dallas, Texas an Army officer attached to Colonel Luper's office and Tech. Sgt. James R. Armstrong of Garden City, Alabama, a flight engineer, all died in the crash. His decorations included the Silver Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster and the Air Medal with two clusters. The Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service from January 11, 1951 to February 28, 1953 was awarded posthumously to Colonel James R. Luper, 1448A, United States Air Force. Survivors included his widow, the former Rene Hiller of Philadelphia; five children: Jare Luper, age 6; a second daughter, age 5 and son, age 2 1/2 of Omaha; daughter, Carol Luper and son from his first marriage of Richmond, Virginia and one sister, Mrs. Carl (Eleanor) Neupert of Portland, Oregon.

Sources: Daily Capital Journal, Salem, Oregon Saturday, September 28, 1946 and Monday, March 2, 1953 and United States Military Academy Association of Graduates memorial.

----
While assigned as a group commander at Tucson, Arizona, General Curtis LeMay recognized Jim's outstanding qualities and assigned him as Chief of Security, Strategic Air Command. The present concept of Air Force Security is Jim's brainchild.
In February of 1953, Jim was informed that he would soon be transferred to Washington to be the Air Provost Marshal General. While returning to Omaha from an inspection tour of several bases. Jim requested a Ground Control Approach (Radar) to assist him in his landing at Offutt Air Force Base. The night was bitterly cold and snow filled the air. There was a crash-and then silence. Jim had joined "the Long Gray Line."

-Bertram C. Harrison, Colonel, USAF

Military Begining:
Enlised in US Army

Military:
listing in US Army Service Register, Rank Second Lieutenant (No. 259 on page136)

Occupation:
Industry: US Army

Military:
listing in military service register

Military:
listed in US Army Military Service Register, Rank Lt. Col.

Military:
listing in US Army Service Registry, promoted to Major

Military:
LTC, Chief of Staff and Deputy Commander of the 46th Bombardment Operational Training Wing, "Operation Fast Forward"

Military:
COL, Commander, 457th Bombardment Group (Heavy)

Military:
listed in US Army military service registery, awarded Distinguished Flying Cross, Purple Heart, Air Medal, Silver Star

Military:
POW, Stalag Luft 4B,
Listed in WW 2 Prisoners of War: First report 7 Oct 1944. Last report 30 Jun 1945. Army Air Corp. Heavy Bomber. Liberated/Repatriated.

Military:
listing in US Military Register

Newspaper:
Tuscon Daily Citizen

Newspaper:
Tucson Daily Citizen

Military:
Inspector General, Strategic Air Command, under LG Curtis Lemay

Newspaper:
Stars and Stripes, Pacific Edition

Newspaper:
Tucson Daily Citizen

Buried:
Section Vi Site 308
(Mil. Academy Cem. suggests Feb. 28 1953 is date of death)
See also http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=121828852

James married Hiller, Rene Esther on 23 Nov 1943. Rene (daughter of Hiller, Albert and Godfroy, Esther E) was born on 16 Mar 1914 in Philadelphia County, PA; died on 4 Nov 2002 in Sarasota County, Florida. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 1 Jan 1920, Philadelphia Ward 24, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; : 5y; Address:
  701 North 39th Street
• Census: 1 Apr 1930, Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; : 16y; Address:
  701 N 39 St.
• Occupation: 1 Apr 1930, Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; None
• Newspaper: 26 Dec 1949, Tucson, Arizona

Notes:

Newspaper:
Tucson Daily Citizen

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 1 Jun 1900, Irving, Lane, Oregon; : 12y
• Occupation: 1 Jun 1900, Irving, Lane, Oregon; At School
• Census: 15 Apr 1910, Malheur, Malheur, Oregon; : 21y
• Occupation: 15 Apr 1910, Malheur, Malheur, Oregon; Civil Engineer
• Residence: 1913, Salem, Marion, Oregon; Address:
  623 N Winter
• Occupation: 1914; Field Assistant
• Residence: 1915, Salem, Marion, Oregon; Address:
  544 N 18th
• Military Draft Registration: 1 Jun 1917, Heppner, Morrow Co., Oregon; : 29y
• Census: 1 Jan 1920, Salem Ward 4, Marion, Oregon; : 31y; Address:
  1344 Ferry St
• Occupation: 1 Jan 1920, Salem Ward 4, Marion, Oregon; Civil Engineer
• Military Draft Registration: 1942, Portland, Multnomah, Oregon; : 54y; Address:
  5707 SE 94th St.

Notes:

Occupation:
General nature of industry, business or establishment: Surveying
Whether employer, employee, or working on own account: Wage earner

Residence:
Salem, Oregon, City Directory, 1913

Residence:
Salem, Oregon, City Directory, 1915

Occupation:
Industry, business or establishment: Irrigation
Employer, salary or wage worker, or working on own account: Wage earner

Died:
Washington, Select Death Certificates, 1907-1960 (Ancestry.com)

James married Potter, Eleanor Gladys on 13 Nov 1911, and was divorced before 1930. Eleanor (daughter of Potter, William Burgess and Minor, Nina Isobell) was born on 15 Aug 1892 in Heppner, Morrow, Oregon; died on 28 Apr 1980 in Portland, Multnomah, Oregon. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 1 Jan 1920, Salem Ward 4, Marion, Oregon; : 27y; Address:
  1344 Ferry St
• Occupation: 1 Jan 1920, Salem Ward 4, Marion, Oregon; None
• Census: 1 Apr 1930, Portland, Multnomah, Oregon; : 35y; Address:
  435 Montgomery
• Occupation: 1 Apr 1930, Portland, Multnomah, Oregon; None

Notes:

Birth:
Source: Oregon, Births and Christenings, 1868-1929

Notes:

Married:
Oregon, Marriage Indexes, 1906-1924, 1946-2008 (Ancestry.com)

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 15 Apr 1910, Philadelphia Ward 24, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; : 31y; Address:
  851 Brawn St.
• Occupation: 15 Apr 1910, Philadelphia Ward 24, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Butcher
• Census: 1 Jan 1920, Philadelphia Ward 24, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; : 41y; Address:
  701 North 39th Street
• Occupation: 1 Jan 1920, Philadelphia Ward 24, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Storekeeper
• Census: 1 Apr 1930, Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; : 52y; Address:
  701 N 39 St.
• Occupation: 1 Apr 1930, Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Butcher

Notes:

Occupation:
General nature of industry, business or establishment: Meat Store
Whether employer, employee, or working on own account: Wage earner

Occupation:
Industry, business or establishment: Meat PRovisions
Employer, salary or wage worker, or working on own account: Own Account

Occupation:
Industry: Butcher Shop
Class of worker: Own Account

Albert married Godfroy, Esther E in 1907. Esther (daughter of Godfroy, Edward and Billings, Ida) was born on 15 Jul 1882 in New Jersey, USA; died on 23 Mar 1975 in Sarasota, Florida. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 15 Apr 1910, Philadelphia Ward 24, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; : 25y; Address:
  851 Brawn St.
• Occupation: 15 Apr 1910, Philadelphia Ward 24, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; None
• Census: 1 Jan 1920, Philadelphia Ward 24, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; : 35y; Address:
  701 North 39th Street
• Census: 1 Apr 1930, Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; : 46y; Address:
  701 N 39 St.
• Occupation: 1 Apr 1930, Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; None

Other Events and Attributes:

• Name: James Norton Luper
• Census: 1 Jun 1850, Mcdonough Co., Illinois, USA; : 6m
• Arrival: 28 Aug 1853, Oregon City, Clackamas County, Oregon, USA; Oregon trail, Plains Crossing
• Census: 24 Aug 1860, Albany, Linn, Oregon; : 10y; Address:
  Albany
• Census: 1 Jun 1870, Lancaster, Lane, Oregon; : 20y; Address:
  Lancaster
• Occupation: 1 Jun 1870, Lancaster, Lane, Oregon; Farmer
• Census: 21 Jun 1880, Irving, Lane, Oregon; : 30y
• Occupation: 21 Jun 1880, Irving, Lane, Oregon; Farmer
• Census: 1 Jun 1900, Irving, Lane, Oregon; : 50y
• Occupation: 1 Jun 1900, Irving, Lane, Oregon; Farmer
• Census: 15 Apr 1910, Matteson, Morrow, Oregon; : 60y
• Occupation: 15 Apr 1910, Matteson, Morrow, Oregon; Farmer
• Census: 1 Jan 1920, Heppner, Morrow Co., Oregon; : 69y; Address:
  Rhea Creek Road
• Occupation: 1 Jan 1920, Heppner, Morrow Co., Oregon; Farmer
• Census: 1 Apr 1930, Salem, Marion, Oregon; : 80y; Address:
  535 N 24th St
• Occupation: 1 Apr 1930, Salem, Marion, Oregon; None

Notes:

From Illustrated history of Lane County, Oregon, AG Walling Publ. (1884) p. 499
"James Luper: resides in Irving; is a farmer; was born in Fulton county, Illinois; came to state in 1853, and to county October, 1869; was married, in 1876, to Mary Pickett. One child, Carrellitice. Was again married, in 1882, to Francis Ray.

Occupation:
General nature of industry, business or establishment: Wheat Farm
Whether employer, employee, or working on own account: Employer

Occupation:
Industry, business or establishment: Wheat Farmer
Employer, salary or wage worker, or working on own account: Own Account

Buried:
Find A Grave Memorial# 39099953

James married Franck, Reah on 11 Jan 1882. Reah was born on 1 Jan 1858 in Junction City, Lane Co, Oregon; died on 25 Apr 1922 in Heppner, Morrow Co., Oregon; was buried on 25 Apr 1922 in Masonic Cemetery, Heppner, Morrow Co., Oregon. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 1 Jun 1900, Irving, Lane, Oregon; : 42y

Notes:

15 Siblings!

Buried:
Find A Grave Memorial# 39100003

William + Minor, Nina Isobell. Nina was born on 6 Oct 1873 in Oregon, USA; died on 28 Aug 1968 in Portland, Multnomah, Oregon. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Edward + Billings, Ida. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]