William E Williams
Military
picture from his cousin Clyde Wiggins via FB group https://www.facebook.com/groups/297834980301279/
Object Number - UPL 60442 - William Williams
Served as Tail Gunner on B-17F #42-24496 "Chennault's Pappy", 306BG/423BS. The aircraft was attacked by FW190s after leaving the target area near St. Nazaire, on 17 November 1942. The TTG Aulenbach was killed and 3 crew members were injured as the plane suffered severe damage. A/C landed at Exeter. S/Sgt Williams was uninjured and Returned to Duty (RTD).
William was serving as Tail Gunner on B-17 #42-5717 on the 16 February 1943 mission to the U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France. The aircraft was attacked by fighters and Pilot William Warner was killed by enemy fire. Co-Pilot Arnold Carlson continued the flight but a/c crashed near Guillac, 7km SW of Ploërmel (Morbihan), France. Killed In Action (KIA).
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 423rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 19067357 at enlistment, then O-727172
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 423rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 39083381
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 423rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 6658162
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: waist gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 423rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 17019588 at enlistment, then O-726043
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 423rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 19005539
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
Aircraft
Missions
![B-24 Liberators of the 44th Bomb Group fly over countryside. Image stamped on reverse: 'Planet News.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 16 Feb 1943.' [stamp] Printed caption on reverse: '7-12 Liberator planes of U.S. Bomber Command in flight at the start of an operational patrol from their base "somewhere in England". And February 17th 1943 PN'](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-379113.jpg.webp?itok=PMFn3r3H)
- Date: 16 February 1943
- Date: 17 November 1942
- Official Description:
Places
- Site type: Cemetery
- Known as: Brittany Cemetary
![A bomber crew of the 306th Bomb Group wave to Picture Post Girls in front of a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-24471) nicknamed "Four of a Kind" at Thurleigh in December 1942. Image stamped on reverse: '"Picture Post" [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 11 Dec 1942.' [stamp], '238038.' [Censor no.] Handwritten in censor's blue pencil on reverse: 'American Flying Fortress crew are introduced to the girls they will meet at Picture Post Xmas Party.'](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-379028.jpg.webp?itok=6Gc6iR0j)
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Bedford
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Jennings, Hamilton County, Florida, United States | 13 May 1920 | |
|
Enlisted |
14 October 1941 | Jacksonville, Florida | |
|
Other Killed in Action (KIA) |
Guillac, France | 16 February 1943 | Killed in action during a fighter attack on his aircraft. |
|
Buried |
Brittany American Cemetery and Memorial | after the war, his remains were brought to the Brittany American Cemetery. William Williams rests at Plot I, Row 7, Grave 11. | |
|
Born |
Jasper, Hamilton County, Florida | ||
|
Buried |
at the Guillac cemetery, France |
Revisions
Lee Cunningham 27-Nov-2014. Added KIA event per MACR 15472; made aircraft associations within existing data.
Lee Cunningham 3-Nov-2014. 17-Nov-24 details: "Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces' Stan Bishop & John A. Hey MBE; 16-Feb-43 event Missing Air Crew Report (MACR) 15472; American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC)
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 15472, Losses of the 8th and 9th Air Forces Volume I by Bishop and Hey p. 46, WWII Memorial web site, ABMC Web Site
