Jim Ince was born on March 28, 1919, in Paragould, Arkansas. He enlisted in the Aviation Cadet Program of the U.S. Army Air Corps on May 31, 1941, and was commissioned a 2d Lt and awarded his pilot wings at Luke Field, Arizona, on January 9, 1942. After completing P-39 Airacobra training, he was assigned to the 6th Pursuit Squadron of the 18th Pursuit Group at Wheeler Field, Hawaii, from March to October 1942, followed by service with the 36th Fighter Squadron of the 8th Fighter Group in New Guinea from October 1942 to March 1943. Lt Ince next transitioned into the P-38 Lightning and served with the 80th Fighter Squadron of the 8th Fighter Group, where he was credited with destroying 2 enemy aircraft in aerial combat, plus 1 probable, before joining the 432nd Fighter Squadron of the 475th Fighter Group in August 1943. While flying with the 432nd, Capt Ince was credited with another 4 air victories, giving him a total of 6 destroyed and 1 probable during World War II. He returned to the U.S. in March 1944, and served as a flight instructor at Moses Lake AAF, Washington, until August 1945, followed by service as Assistant Base Operations Officer at Spokane AAF, Washington, until leaving active duty on December 11, 1946. Capt Ince remained in the Air Force Reserve, and was recalled to active duty beginning April 9, 1951. He served as Assistant Base Operations Officer at Norton AFB, California, from April 1951 to February 1952, and then deployed to Japan, where he served with the Far East Air Forces, flying combat missions in Korea, and then serving with Headquarters 5th Air Force before returning to the U.S. in September 1955. His next assignment was as Assistant Air Operations Officer at Barksdale AFB, Louisiana, from September 1955 to January 1958, followed by service on the staff of Headquarters 2nd Air Force at Barksdale until September 1960. He then served on the staff of the 4238th Strategic Wing at Barksdale from September 1960 to Mary 1961. His final assignment was with the 379th Bomb Wing at Wurtsmith AFB, Michigan, from May 1961 until his retirement from the Air Force on October 1, 1965. Jim Ince died on January 28, 2009, and was buried at the Sardis Cemetery in Nashville, Arkansas.

His 2nd Distinguished Flying Cross Citation reads:

For heroism in flight and outstanding accomplishment in the face of great danger above and beyond the line of duty over Alexishafen, New Guinea, on 9 November 1943. Captain Ince was flying a P-38 type aircraft, which was one of a formation of twelve P-38's, when approximately twenty enemy fighters were encountered. In the ensuing engagement, Captain Ince fired on an enemy airplane sending it into a steep dive and causing it to crash. This is the fifth enemy aircraft Captain Ince is officially credited with having destroyed in aerial combat.