William George Cokins

Military

Shot down 20 October 1943 in B-17 #42-5913. Prisoner of War (POW).

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 385th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 385th Bomb Group 550th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 16069047
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 385th Bomb Group 550th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 33323881
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 385th Bomb Group 550th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-735982
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
First Lieutenant Lyle Fryer, of the 385th Bomb Group with his B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Mary Ellen III". Passed for publication 28 Sep 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'Youth Of The Flying Fortresses. USP/224I-200-201. L/Lt.[sic] Lyle Fryer, of Rochester, Minn., pilot of the Fortress "Mary Ellen III", awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for "extraordinary achievement" during a bombing mission over Germany recentl. Lt. Fryer is only 22 years of age, and has already been awarded the Air Medal for
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 385th Bomb Group 551st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-665675
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 385th Bomb Group 550th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19070682
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Shack Bunny
  • Unit: 385th Bomb Group 551st Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Prisoner of War

20 October 1943

Revisions

Date
Changes
Sources

Merged with duplicate entry to include details from:
- MACR 828 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

MACR 828
NARA WWII POW records

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 828