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LIFE
BIRTH AND ACADEMICS
James Linn Travis was born on June 26, 1911 in Seattle, Washington to John Linn Travis and Myrtle Chapman Hunt, and as the younger brother of John 'Jack' Hunt. In his adulthood, 19-year-old James attended University of Oregon for the Economics Bachelor of Science. Some of his parts were: Friars member, Senior Finance Officer for the A.S.U.O (Associated Students of University of Oregon government), chair of the Executive Council and chair of the bonfire committee. Other participations, including his part in the Frosh Squad swimming team, in the 100-Yard Breast Stroke modality, and in both the Chi Psi and Beta Theta Pi fraternities happened before his graduation in 1934.
MILITARY LIFE
1934
Went on vessel to Shanghai, China at the age of 22. When arriving back from China in Texas, enlisted into the US Army on June 23, 1934.
1935
Graduated Primary/Basic Flying School in March Field, California and Advanced Flying School at Kelly Field, Texas.
1936
Accepted and recommended for commission as Second Lieutenant in the Air Reserve. Active duty went from July, 1936 to September, 1938.
1940
Applied for First Lieutenant and officially moved up in October.
1941
Possibly ranked as a Captain.
1942
Ranked as Major. During this period, some records might indicate James attended the 4th Air Force.
1943
Ranked Lieutenant Colonel. From September 1943, to June 1944 served the 8th Air force's 3rd division, 45th Combat Bomb Wing, as the Commanding Officer of the 96BG at Snetterton Heath, England. During this period a casualty happened, Col. Jim Travis had two minor injuries on August 19, 1943, when Black Heart Jr. (aircraft 42-30152) caught fire with explosions, Colonel and the incomplete crew bailed out and returned.
1944
Awarded 3 times for gallantry against the enemy with a French Croix de Guerre, a Silver Star and a Distinguished Service Cross Air medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, once in a ceremony held by General Carl A. Spaatz and Gen. James Doolittle for commanding the very 100th attack on Nazi targets (April 2, 1944). Travis was then sent back to the US on June 1944.
1945, 1946
Continued to serve in the army in the US. Appointed Chief of Procurement Field Offices at Northrop and North American Inc. of Los Angeles in 1946.
MARCH FIELD, CA
James graduated Primary Flying School in March Field,
during the year of 1935.
DECEASE
Records tragically reveal the Colonel's death on April 5, 1947, out of an aircraft accident with one other crewmember and two press informants, named: (Cpt.) Billy Bernard Brown, Kenton Case and William Paul Pounds.
It took place in a rural field less than five miles away from Decatur Ville, Decatur - Tennessee.
The location of the accident suggests an intention of arrival in Gunter Field - Alabama, which is located 300 miles away from the crashing scene.
Sources report a bad weather in Tennessee at the time. Other info: aircraft accident took place in a Douglas C-47 Sky train (DC-3).
The Colonel's burial seems to have occurred on April 8, 1947 on Smyrna, Marshall - Tennessee, but there is a headstone application for his grave in 1948 in name of his father John. The headstone it is currently placed on the River View Cemetery (picture), in Portland, Oregon.
ATTENTION: If you wish to leave flowers in his honor*, please click the button below, choose an order and inform personnel his grave details: Col James L Travis Burial: 04/14/1947 Section: 9 Section Lot/Tier: 134 Grave:7
*Site owner not involved and/or responsible for flower services in Riverview Cemetery.
RELATIVES AND MORE
Family and connections
James met or reencountered Ms. Rebecca Smoot Marriot (1919-2005), from Salt Lake City - Utah, whom he married in 12 September, 1945. They moved to Los Angeles, California in 1946. Together, they had a babyboy named William Smoot Travis in 1946. Unfortunately the baby passed away in the first hour of his life.
James' father, John L. Travis (1866-1958) was the Managing Editor of a local newspaper, then City editor of the Evening Journal (Portland, Oregon) and following his steps, his brother John 'Jack' Hunt (1906-1982) in adulthood, became a publisher at The Hood River Sun (Hood River, Oregon). Father of his father, Rev. William Travis, aged Portland citizen, served as a Presbyterian Pastor in Oregon and in the East. Rev. was pioneer in the movement for graded school education in America as well, and in 1888 was prominent as a minister and Sunday school missionary in the Oregon Presbytery.
His mother, Myrtle Hunt Chapman Travis (1880-1975) a student of Wellesley College - MA, and daughter of James Everett Hunt, retired business man, ex-police leader and Oregon ex-senator, married to Addie M. Chapman.
