William D Bates
Military ROLL OF HONOUR
media-20653.jpeg
UPL 20653
F/O William D Bates 334FS, 4FG, 8AF USAAF.
Suffered Mechanical Failure in P-51D 44-13884 aborted mission and abandoned A/C over North Sea, unable to get into his dinghy after several attempts, he elected to float in his Mae West and await rescue. Though located by an ASR Walrus, it was too rough for the flying boat to land. His body was later located by an ASR launch two and a half hours after landing in the Channel. KIA.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
- Unit: 4th Fighter Group 334th Fighter Squadron
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Alabama, USA | 6 March 1918 | Son of Mr David G and Mrs Dezzie S Bates. |
Died |
North Sea | 6 February 1945 | Suffered Mechanical Failure in P-51D 44-13884 aborted mission and abandoned A/C over North Sea, unable to get into his dinghy after several attempts, he elected to float in his Mae West and await rescue. Though located by an ASR Walrus, it was too rough for the flying boat to land. His body was later located by an ASR launch two and a half hours after landing in the Channel. KIA. |
Cullman, AL, USA | |||
Buried |
Elkmont, AL 35620, USA | Antioch Cemetery Elkmont, Limestone County Alabama, USA. |
Revisions
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources
Combat Chronology / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Ted Damick, VIII Fighter Command pilots list