2nd Lt USAS Born 18 Dec 1893 in Guthrie, Illinois. Enlisted 29 June at Chicago and graduated from the Univ of Ill SMA 20 Oct 1917. As one of the "300" selected for training by the RFC recevd flying instructions in the Canuck in Canada Nov 8, 1917, JN-4D at Taliaferro Fields, Ft Worth until 1918. Officially credited with downing 2 airplanes and 1 balloon. On 20 Oct 1918, while strafing a balloon near Dun sur Meuse, he crashed and was killed. DSC, WWI Victory Medal with 5 battle clasps, 2 gold overseas chevrons. Reinterred in Gibson City, Illinois 18 Sept 1921.
Exact cemetery unknown.
Flowers left for William Brotherton
Pilot, 147th Aero Squadron, Air service, A.E.F.
Citation: The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to William E Brotherton, Second Leutenant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Fers-en-Tardenois, France, on August 1, 1918. An enemy Rumpler plane being reported over the airdrome, Lieutenant Brotherton, with another officer, ascended and soon uncounted six Fokker planes that were protecting another Fokker serving as a decoy. Disregarding the enemy's superiority in number, he maneuvered so as to secure the advantage of the sun and dived on the decoy plane; pouring in air destructive fire, he killed the pilot and crashed the machine to the ground. General Orders 7, W.D. 1919. Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
- Paula J
Added: Apr. 16, 2005
Jan 8, 2013 - jenzroots advised burial in Drummer Twp., Cemetery in Ford Co., IL. There are a few other Brothertons listed there and I have added their memorials to the cemetery. :-)
Per family tree posted to ancestry.com he was the son of
Campbell G. Brotherton 1865 – 1952
Addie Lee Miner 1868 – 1902
Exact cemetery unknown.
Flowers left for William Brotherton
Pilot, 147th Aero Squadron, Air service, A.E.F.
Citation: The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to William E Brotherton, Second Leutenant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Fers-en-Tardenois, France, on August 1, 1918. An enemy Rumpler plane being reported over the airdrome, Lieutenant Brotherton, with another officer, ascended and soon uncounted six Fokker planes that were protecting another Fokker serving as a decoy. Disregarding the enemy's superiority in number, he maneuvered so as to secure the advantage of the sun and dived on the decoy plane; pouring in air destructive fire, he killed the pilot and crashed the machine to the ground. General Orders 7, W.D. 1919. Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
- Paula J
Added: Apr. 16, 2005
Jan 8, 2013 - jenzroots advised burial in Drummer Twp., Cemetery in Ford Co., IL. There are a few other Brothertons listed there and I have added their memorials to the cemetery. :-)
Per family tree posted to ancestry.com he was the son of
Campbell G. Brotherton 1865 – 1952
Addie Lee Miner 1868 – 1902
2nd Lt USAS Born 18 Dec 1893 in Guthrie, Illinois. Enlisted 29 June at Chicago and graduated from the Univ of Ill SMA 20 Oct 1917. As one of the "300" selected for training by the RFC recevd flying instructions in the Canuck in Canada Nov 8, 1917, JN-4D at Taliaferro Fields, Ft Worth until 1918. Officially credited with downing 2 airplanes and 1 balloon. On 20 Oct 1918, while strafing a balloon near Dun sur Meuse, he crashed and was killed. DSC, WWI Victory Medal with 5 battle clasps, 2 gold overseas chevrons. Reinterred in Gibson City, Illinois 18 Sept 1921.
Exact cemetery unknown.
Flowers left for William Brotherton
Pilot, 147th Aero Squadron, Air service, A.E.F.
Citation: The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to William E Brotherton, Second Leutenant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Fers-en-Tardenois, France, on August 1, 1918. An enemy Rumpler plane being reported over the airdrome, Lieutenant Brotherton, with another officer, ascended and soon uncounted six Fokker planes that were protecting another Fokker serving as a decoy. Disregarding the enemy's superiority in number, he maneuvered so as to secure the advantage of the sun and dived on the decoy plane; pouring in air destructive fire, he killed the pilot and crashed the machine to the ground. General Orders 7, W.D. 1919. Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
- Paula J
Added: Apr. 16, 2005
Jan 8, 2013 - jenzroots advised burial in Drummer Twp., Cemetery in Ford Co., IL. There are a few other Brothertons listed there and I have added their memorials to the cemetery. :-)
Per family tree posted to ancestry.com he was the son of
Campbell G. Brotherton 1865 – 1952
Addie Lee Miner 1868 – 1902
Exact cemetery unknown.
Flowers left for William Brotherton
Pilot, 147th Aero Squadron, Air service, A.E.F.
Citation: The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to William E Brotherton, Second Leutenant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Fers-en-Tardenois, France, on August 1, 1918. An enemy Rumpler plane being reported over the airdrome, Lieutenant Brotherton, with another officer, ascended and soon uncounted six Fokker planes that were protecting another Fokker serving as a decoy. Disregarding the enemy's superiority in number, he maneuvered so as to secure the advantage of the sun and dived on the decoy plane; pouring in air destructive fire, he killed the pilot and crashed the machine to the ground. General Orders 7, W.D. 1919. Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
- Paula J
Added: Apr. 16, 2005
Jan 8, 2013 - jenzroots advised burial in Drummer Twp., Cemetery in Ford Co., IL. There are a few other Brothertons listed there and I have added their memorials to the cemetery. :-)
Per family tree posted to ancestry.com he was the son of
Campbell G. Brotherton 1865 – 1952
Addie Lee Miner 1868 – 1902
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