James E. Spillane Jr.
Rank: Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army Air Force
Serial: O-758094
Unit: 436th Fighter Squadron, 479th Fighter Group
Entered service from: New Jersey
Died:
Burial: New St. Mary’s Cemetery, Bellmawr, NJ
Awards: Purple Heart
Biography
James E. Spillane Jr.
Second Lieutenant James E. Spillane Jr. was born in Pennsylvania in 1919. He grew up in the Bettlewood section of Haddon Township NJ, living on East Collingswood Avenue. This neighborhood was served by the Oaklyn NJ post office, and is often referred to as Oaklyn. The son of James and Ida Spillane, his father was a sergeant on the Haddon Township police force.
James Spillane Jr. graduated from Edison Junior High school in Haddon Township, NJ, and graduated from Collingswood High School in the class of 1938. An outstanding athlete, Lieutenant Spillane was a star on the Collingswood High School football, baseball, and basketball teams. He also played baseball in the Camden County League.
James Spillane was transferred to the Signal Corps prior to transferring to fighters in January 1942, and was stationed at Fort Monmouth NJ. In March of 1942 he passed his examination for service in the Air Corps. In May of 1942 he was sent to Hawaii before his transfer to the Air Corps came through. He had to retake the test to qualify for pilot, navigator, or bombardier training. He qualified for pilot training and earned his wings.
Second Lieutenant Spillane was sent to England in April of 1944, assigned to the 436th Fighter Squadron, 479th Fighter Group. He flew combat missions from England over Germany, France, and the Low Countries. His plane was involved in an accident while taxiing at Wattisham in England on May 26, 1944. He was killed in action while flying a cover mission, protecting the bomber formations, over France, on June 9, 1944. He was 25 years old.
James Spillane was reported to have been killed in action in the June 22, 1944 edition of the Camden Courier-Post. He was brought home after the war, and he now lies at New St. Mary’s Cemetery in Bellmawr NJ, next to his parents.
New St. Mary's Cemetery
New St. Mary’s Cemetery, Bellmawr, NJ
Collingswood High School Football
James Spillane, Collingswood High School football
Six Injured Locals Will Return for Traditional Tilt Saturday
Camden Courier-Post —
Six Injured Locals Will Return for Traditional Tilt Saturday
HUSSONG IS LIKELY TO BE IN SHAPE
Barring unforeseen mishaps in practice, which is expected to be strenuous at both camps, Camden and Collingswood High Schools both will have their full strength for this Saturday’s traditional football classic.
Jimmy Spillane, who was the regular quarterback for the “Colls” until he was injured several weeks ago, will not play, but LeRoy Stanton has played such an outstanding game at the signal-calling post that he can easily be considered the varsity player.
Walt Cowan Twirls ‘Colls’ to Easy 8-1 Decision Over Westmont
Camden Courier-Post —
Walt Cowan Twirls ‘Colls’ to Easy 8-1 Decision Over Westmont
With Walt Cowan again covering himself with glory on the mound, Merrill Peacock’s Collingswood Independents tightened the race in the strong Camden County League last night when they handed Walt Murphy’s pacemaking Westmont nine an 8 to 1 shellacking, at Westmont.
Cowan limited the Westmont outfit to three bingles and was never in difficulty. Collingswood clouted the ball in timely fashion to produce one run in the second inning, four in the fifth and three in the eighth.
Jimmy Spillane touched off the fireworks when he was passed and took third when George Groff reached first on an error. Jim Davis connected for a single to send Spillane across the plate. Westmont’s only run of the game came in the last session when Peterson doubled and Bill Hyland singled.