USAAF WORLD WAR II
Pilot 1st/Lt. William Henry Birrell DIS
USMA class of 1940
Hometown: Warren, Ohio
Squadron: 52nd Pursuit Group.
Service#
Awards:
Target: Transfer Mission
Mission Date: 10-Oct-41
Serial Number: # 39-200
Aircraft Model P-40
Aircraft Letter:
Aircraft Name:
Location:
Cause: Mechanical Failure
Biography gleaned from www.westpointaog.org
Graduate United States Military Academy Class of 1940
1st/Lt. William Henry Birrell was born December 9, 1918, in Kinsman, Ohio, the first son of George Henry Birrell and Mary Ann Birrell. Oldest of three sons. His father was a pilot in the First World War.
William Birrell graduated first in his class at Warren High School, and later proceeded to West Point having been appointed by Congressman John G. Cooper. Graduating with the class of 1940 he received orders to report to Ontario, California, to commence primary phase flight training. Birrell progressed from there to basic phase training school at Moffett Field, California, finally graduating from advanced training school at Stockton, California, and receiving his wings on March 14, 1941, with the class of 41-B. He was retained as an instructor there until May, 1941, pending receipt of orders sending him to Selfridge Field, Michigan, where he was assigned to the 52nd Pursuit Group.
On October 18, 1941, eight days after his promotion to 1st lieutenant, and after engaging in the first interceptor practice over New England flying a P-40 pursuit he was ordered to participate in a flight of twenty-five planes traveling from Windsor Locks, Conn., to McChord Field, Wash., under command of Major C. E. Hughes. About noon on October 24th, after arriving at March Field, Cal., from Phoenix, nineteen of the original flight left for McClelland Field at Sacramento, Cal., six others having dropped behind because of motor trouble along the route.
A series of unfortunate incidents plagued the flight from this point, resulting in the death of four of the pilots and the destruction of eight of the planes. While traveling along and above the high Sierra Mountains, the flight soon encountered continuous fog and low visibility, resulting in the separation of several of the planes from the main flight. Birrell's element of three planes was soon on its own. One of its planes caught on fire, the pilot bailing out. Another had engine trouble and its pilot bailed out also. Another which had advanced to take the vacant place disappeared in the fog and has not yet been found. Birrell, left alone, continued, flying on instruments, toward Sacramento. About 2:00 p. m., near Bass Lake on the lower border of Yosemite Park, a plane motor was heard to stop momentarily and then start again, as though it were running out of gas. Almost immediately thereafter a crash followed. The identification tag found later at the scene by a search party identified the pilot as Birrell's.
Bill was buried, where he was born, at Kinsman, Ohio, on October 31, 1941, with military honors. His passing left all who knew him well, deeply hurt. To us his loss can never be repaired. He had done much for us all, and we knew that he was to do a great deal for the Army and his country in the future.
Pilot 1st/Lt. William Henry Birrell DIS
USMA class of 1940
Hometown: Warren, Ohio
Squadron: 52nd Pursuit Group.
Service#
Awards:
Target: Transfer Mission
Mission Date: 10-Oct-41
Serial Number: # 39-200
Aircraft Model P-40
Aircraft Letter:
Aircraft Name:
Location:
Cause: Mechanical Failure
Biography gleaned from www.westpointaog.org
Graduate United States Military Academy Class of 1940
1st/Lt. William Henry Birrell was born December 9, 1918, in Kinsman, Ohio, the first son of George Henry Birrell and Mary Ann Birrell. Oldest of three sons. His father was a pilot in the First World War.
William Birrell graduated first in his class at Warren High School, and later proceeded to West Point having been appointed by Congressman John G. Cooper. Graduating with the class of 1940 he received orders to report to Ontario, California, to commence primary phase flight training. Birrell progressed from there to basic phase training school at Moffett Field, California, finally graduating from advanced training school at Stockton, California, and receiving his wings on March 14, 1941, with the class of 41-B. He was retained as an instructor there until May, 1941, pending receipt of orders sending him to Selfridge Field, Michigan, where he was assigned to the 52nd Pursuit Group.
On October 18, 1941, eight days after his promotion to 1st lieutenant, and after engaging in the first interceptor practice over New England flying a P-40 pursuit he was ordered to participate in a flight of twenty-five planes traveling from Windsor Locks, Conn., to McChord Field, Wash., under command of Major C. E. Hughes. About noon on October 24th, after arriving at March Field, Cal., from Phoenix, nineteen of the original flight left for McClelland Field at Sacramento, Cal., six others having dropped behind because of motor trouble along the route.
A series of unfortunate incidents plagued the flight from this point, resulting in the death of four of the pilots and the destruction of eight of the planes. While traveling along and above the high Sierra Mountains, the flight soon encountered continuous fog and low visibility, resulting in the separation of several of the planes from the main flight. Birrell's element of three planes was soon on its own. One of its planes caught on fire, the pilot bailing out. Another had engine trouble and its pilot bailed out also. Another which had advanced to take the vacant place disappeared in the fog and has not yet been found. Birrell, left alone, continued, flying on instruments, toward Sacramento. About 2:00 p. m., near Bass Lake on the lower border of Yosemite Park, a plane motor was heard to stop momentarily and then start again, as though it were running out of gas. Almost immediately thereafter a crash followed. The identification tag found later at the scene by a search party identified the pilot as Birrell's.
Bill was buried, where he was born, at Kinsman, Ohio, on October 31, 1941, with military honors. His passing left all who knew him well, deeply hurt. To us his loss can never be repaired. He had done much for us all, and we knew that he was to do a great deal for the Army and his country in the future.
USAAF WORLD WAR II
Pilot 1st/Lt. William Henry Birrell DIS
USMA class of 1940
Hometown: Warren, Ohio
Squadron: 52nd Pursuit Group.
Service#
Awards:
Target: Transfer Mission
Mission Date: 10-Oct-41
Serial Number: # 39-200
Aircraft Model P-40
Aircraft Letter:
Aircraft Name:
Location:
Cause: Mechanical Failure
Biography gleaned from www.westpointaog.org
Graduate United States Military Academy Class of 1940
1st/Lt. William Henry Birrell was born December 9, 1918, in Kinsman, Ohio, the first son of George Henry Birrell and Mary Ann Birrell. Oldest of three sons. His father was a pilot in the First World War.
William Birrell graduated first in his class at Warren High School, and later proceeded to West Point having been appointed by Congressman John G. Cooper. Graduating with the class of 1940 he received orders to report to Ontario, California, to commence primary phase flight training. Birrell progressed from there to basic phase training school at Moffett Field, California, finally graduating from advanced training school at Stockton, California, and receiving his wings on March 14, 1941, with the class of 41-B. He was retained as an instructor there until May, 1941, pending receipt of orders sending him to Selfridge Field, Michigan, where he was assigned to the 52nd Pursuit Group.
On October 18, 1941, eight days after his promotion to 1st lieutenant, and after engaging in the first interceptor practice over New England flying a P-40 pursuit he was ordered to participate in a flight of twenty-five planes traveling from Windsor Locks, Conn., to McChord Field, Wash., under command of Major C. E. Hughes. About noon on October 24th, after arriving at March Field, Cal., from Phoenix, nineteen of the original flight left for McClelland Field at Sacramento, Cal., six others having dropped behind because of motor trouble along the route.
A series of unfortunate incidents plagued the flight from this point, resulting in the death of four of the pilots and the destruction of eight of the planes. While traveling along and above the high Sierra Mountains, the flight soon encountered continuous fog and low visibility, resulting in the separation of several of the planes from the main flight. Birrell's element of three planes was soon on its own. One of its planes caught on fire, the pilot bailing out. Another had engine trouble and its pilot bailed out also. Another which had advanced to take the vacant place disappeared in the fog and has not yet been found. Birrell, left alone, continued, flying on instruments, toward Sacramento. About 2:00 p. m., near Bass Lake on the lower border of Yosemite Park, a plane motor was heard to stop momentarily and then start again, as though it were running out of gas. Almost immediately thereafter a crash followed. The identification tag found later at the scene by a search party identified the pilot as Birrell's.
Bill was buried, where he was born, at Kinsman, Ohio, on October 31, 1941, with military honors. His passing left all who knew him well, deeply hurt. To us his loss can never be repaired. He had done much for us all, and we knew that he was to do a great deal for the Army and his country in the future.
Pilot 1st/Lt. William Henry Birrell DIS
USMA class of 1940
Hometown: Warren, Ohio
Squadron: 52nd Pursuit Group.
Service#
Awards:
Target: Transfer Mission
Mission Date: 10-Oct-41
Serial Number: # 39-200
Aircraft Model P-40
Aircraft Letter:
Aircraft Name:
Location:
Cause: Mechanical Failure
Biography gleaned from www.westpointaog.org
Graduate United States Military Academy Class of 1940
1st/Lt. William Henry Birrell was born December 9, 1918, in Kinsman, Ohio, the first son of George Henry Birrell and Mary Ann Birrell. Oldest of three sons. His father was a pilot in the First World War.
William Birrell graduated first in his class at Warren High School, and later proceeded to West Point having been appointed by Congressman John G. Cooper. Graduating with the class of 1940 he received orders to report to Ontario, California, to commence primary phase flight training. Birrell progressed from there to basic phase training school at Moffett Field, California, finally graduating from advanced training school at Stockton, California, and receiving his wings on March 14, 1941, with the class of 41-B. He was retained as an instructor there until May, 1941, pending receipt of orders sending him to Selfridge Field, Michigan, where he was assigned to the 52nd Pursuit Group.
On October 18, 1941, eight days after his promotion to 1st lieutenant, and after engaging in the first interceptor practice over New England flying a P-40 pursuit he was ordered to participate in a flight of twenty-five planes traveling from Windsor Locks, Conn., to McChord Field, Wash., under command of Major C. E. Hughes. About noon on October 24th, after arriving at March Field, Cal., from Phoenix, nineteen of the original flight left for McClelland Field at Sacramento, Cal., six others having dropped behind because of motor trouble along the route.
A series of unfortunate incidents plagued the flight from this point, resulting in the death of four of the pilots and the destruction of eight of the planes. While traveling along and above the high Sierra Mountains, the flight soon encountered continuous fog and low visibility, resulting in the separation of several of the planes from the main flight. Birrell's element of three planes was soon on its own. One of its planes caught on fire, the pilot bailing out. Another had engine trouble and its pilot bailed out also. Another which had advanced to take the vacant place disappeared in the fog and has not yet been found. Birrell, left alone, continued, flying on instruments, toward Sacramento. About 2:00 p. m., near Bass Lake on the lower border of Yosemite Park, a plane motor was heard to stop momentarily and then start again, as though it were running out of gas. Almost immediately thereafter a crash followed. The identification tag found later at the scene by a search party identified the pilot as Birrell's.
Bill was buried, where he was born, at Kinsman, Ohio, on October 31, 1941, with military honors. His passing left all who knew him well, deeply hurt. To us his loss can never be repaired. He had done much for us all, and we knew that he was to do a great deal for the Army and his country in the future.
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