William David Shelly Jr

Military

William Shelly was in the 381st Bomb Group/533rd Bomb Squadron. On the 10 September 1944 mission, he was Top Turret Gunner on board B-24 44-6095 and parachuted from the stricken Liberator. Captured after landing, he became a Prisoner of War (POW). Honorably discharged on 27 October 1945.

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 381st Bomb Group.

381st Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

John Chester Diedrich

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 533rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19113223
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator/Gunner

Alexander Donaldson

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 533rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 13171816
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator / Waist Gunner

Ernest Germano

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 533rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19089763 at enlistment, then O-555010
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Cloyde Inman Goody

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 533rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 38406212
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner

James Marshall Grey

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 533rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19206466 at enlistment, then O-768076
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot

Aircraft

44-6095

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Forth Worth Gal
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 533rd Bomb Squadron

Missions

French civillians inspect a crashed B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-32086) nicknamed "You Never Know" of the 457th Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: '10/9/44 France.'

619

  • Date: 10 September 1944

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

14 July 1922 Huntsville, Walker County, Texas

Enlisted

9 June 1941 Houston, Texas

Other

captured

10 September 1944 in the Neibsheim / Karlsruhe area, Germany, after the crash of B-24 44-6095

Other

Prisoner of War (POW)

10 September 1944 Interned at Stalag Luft 4, Gross Tychow (Tychowo), Poland. NARA WWII POW records : “Returned to Military Control 24 May 1945."

Died

31 May 1992 Lubbock, Texas
Altus, Jackson County, Oklahoma

Buried

William Shelly rests at the Resthaven Memorial Park in Lubbock, Texas

Revisions

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

NARA WWII Enlistment records
NARA WWII POW records
Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File
VA Gravesite Locator

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 8906