James W. Dye, Jr.
Branch: NAVY Service Number: 2452293 Rank: Aviation Radioman Third Class Unit: Torpedo Squadron 82 (VT-82) As preface to this story, I have used many excerpts from the novel," Flyboys: A True Story of Courage" by author James Bradley. Mr. Bradley was able to interview several of Jimmy’s family, friends, Navy buddies, captors and even the executioners to get a true feel for his life. His work was invaluable to be able to tell Jimmy’s life story. While his death was much more graphically depicted in Bradley’s book, I have chosen to spare the reader from the most, but not all of the ghastly details. READER DISCRETION IS ADVISED 41 W. Buckingham Avenue James Wesley Dye, Jr., who went by “Jimmy” to his friends and “Buddy” by his family, was born on November 27, 1925 in Gloucester City, NJ to parents James Wesley Dye, Sr. and Kathryn Teresa (Brannon) Dye. It appears he was baptized on the same day by the Highland Park Methodist Church in