James A. Verinis
Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army Air Forces

James A. Verinis was born on 23 October 1916 in Connecticut.

With the outbreak of World War II, he was assigned as co-pilot of the B-17, "Memphis Belle." The bomber and her crew would ultimately become the first to fly all of its required twenty-five missions in the European Theater of Operations during the war. Twenty-five was the number of missions that had to be completed before the crew could be sent back to the U.S. Her last mission was flown on 17 May 1943.

After touring for a time in the U.S., he returned to the war as commander of the B-17, "The Connecticut Yankee." He ultimately retired as a Lieutenant Colonel.

After retirement, he owned and operated a furniture business.

Death and Burial

Lieutenant Colonel James A. Verinis died on 3 March 2003 in Florida. He is buried at Beaverdale Memorial Park in New Haven, CT.