William served as a Technical Sergeant & Radio Operator / Gunner on B-17G "Miss Lollipop" #42-97883, 349th Bomber Squadron, 100th Bomber Group, Heavy, U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II.
He resided in Bastrop County, Texas prior to the war.
B-17G #42-97883 took off, with a crew of 10, from Station 139, England on a Tactical Operation over Rosières-en-Santerre, France. Near Dunkirk they were hit by ground anti-aircraft fire with disabled their #4 engine and caused their right wing to catch on fire. The #1 and #2 engines also sustained damage from the flak.
The pilot, 2nd Lt. Edward P. McKeague, was able to fly the damaged B-17 to near the English coast and then told the crew to "bail-out". 2nd Lt. McKeague was the last one to bail out. " 8 " members of the crew, however, were lost during this flight.
William was declared "Missing In Action" on this mission during the war.
He was awarded the Air Medal and the Purple Heart.
Service # 38367848
( Bio by: Russ Pickett )
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Airmen who perished on B-17G #42-97883:
Allen, William H, Jr. ~ T/Sgt, Radio Operator, TX
Hudnall, Alfred M. ~ S/Sgt, Left Waist Gunner, TX
Louros, Stelios M. ~ 2nd Lt, Navigator, NY
McKeague, Edward P. ~ 2nd Lt, Pilot, PA
Pellegrino, Joseph S. ~ Sgt, Tail Gunner, NY
Peters, Evan B. ~ T/Sgt, Togglier, MD
Ritter, Frank A. ~ 2nd Lt, Co-Pilot, NY
Swafford, James L. ~ S/Sgt, Ball Turret Gunner, GA
( Crew report by: Russ Pickett )
He resided in Bastrop County, Texas prior to the war.
B-17G #42-97883 took off, with a crew of 10, from Station 139, England on a Tactical Operation over Rosières-en-Santerre, France. Near Dunkirk they were hit by ground anti-aircraft fire with disabled their #4 engine and caused their right wing to catch on fire. The #1 and #2 engines also sustained damage from the flak.
The pilot, 2nd Lt. Edward P. McKeague, was able to fly the damaged B-17 to near the English coast and then told the crew to "bail-out". 2nd Lt. McKeague was the last one to bail out. " 8 " members of the crew, however, were lost during this flight.
William was declared "Missing In Action" on this mission during the war.
He was awarded the Air Medal and the Purple Heart.
Service # 38367848
( Bio by: Russ Pickett )
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Airmen who perished on B-17G #42-97883:
Allen, William H, Jr. ~ T/Sgt, Radio Operator, TX
Hudnall, Alfred M. ~ S/Sgt, Left Waist Gunner, TX
Louros, Stelios M. ~ 2nd Lt, Navigator, NY
McKeague, Edward P. ~ 2nd Lt, Pilot, PA
Pellegrino, Joseph S. ~ Sgt, Tail Gunner, NY
Peters, Evan B. ~ T/Sgt, Togglier, MD
Ritter, Frank A. ~ 2nd Lt, Co-Pilot, NY
Swafford, James L. ~ S/Sgt, Ball Turret Gunner, GA
( Crew report by: Russ Pickett )
William served as a Technical Sergeant & Radio Operator / Gunner on B-17G "Miss Lollipop" #42-97883, 349th Bomber Squadron, 100th Bomber Group, Heavy, U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II.
He resided in Bastrop County, Texas prior to the war.
B-17G #42-97883 took off, with a crew of 10, from Station 139, England on a Tactical Operation over Rosières-en-Santerre, France. Near Dunkirk they were hit by ground anti-aircraft fire with disabled their #4 engine and caused their right wing to catch on fire. The #1 and #2 engines also sustained damage from the flak.
The pilot, 2nd Lt. Edward P. McKeague, was able to fly the damaged B-17 to near the English coast and then told the crew to "bail-out". 2nd Lt. McKeague was the last one to bail out. " 8 " members of the crew, however, were lost during this flight.
William was declared "Missing In Action" on this mission during the war.
He was awarded the Air Medal and the Purple Heart.
Service # 38367848
( Bio by: Russ Pickett )
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Airmen who perished on B-17G #42-97883:
Allen, William H, Jr. ~ T/Sgt, Radio Operator, TX
Hudnall, Alfred M. ~ S/Sgt, Left Waist Gunner, TX
Louros, Stelios M. ~ 2nd Lt, Navigator, NY
McKeague, Edward P. ~ 2nd Lt, Pilot, PA
Pellegrino, Joseph S. ~ Sgt, Tail Gunner, NY
Peters, Evan B. ~ T/Sgt, Togglier, MD
Ritter, Frank A. ~ 2nd Lt, Co-Pilot, NY
Swafford, James L. ~ S/Sgt, Ball Turret Gunner, GA
( Crew report by: Russ Pickett )
He resided in Bastrop County, Texas prior to the war.
B-17G #42-97883 took off, with a crew of 10, from Station 139, England on a Tactical Operation over Rosières-en-Santerre, France. Near Dunkirk they were hit by ground anti-aircraft fire with disabled their #4 engine and caused their right wing to catch on fire. The #1 and #2 engines also sustained damage from the flak.
The pilot, 2nd Lt. Edward P. McKeague, was able to fly the damaged B-17 to near the English coast and then told the crew to "bail-out". 2nd Lt. McKeague was the last one to bail out. " 8 " members of the crew, however, were lost during this flight.
William was declared "Missing In Action" on this mission during the war.
He was awarded the Air Medal and the Purple Heart.
Service # 38367848
( Bio by: Russ Pickett )
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Airmen who perished on B-17G #42-97883:
Allen, William H, Jr. ~ T/Sgt, Radio Operator, TX
Hudnall, Alfred M. ~ S/Sgt, Left Waist Gunner, TX
Louros, Stelios M. ~ 2nd Lt, Navigator, NY
McKeague, Edward P. ~ 2nd Lt, Pilot, PA
Pellegrino, Joseph S. ~ Sgt, Tail Gunner, NY
Peters, Evan B. ~ T/Sgt, Togglier, MD
Ritter, Frank A. ~ 2nd Lt, Co-Pilot, NY
Swafford, James L. ~ S/Sgt, Ball Turret Gunner, GA
( Crew report by: Russ Pickett )
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