William Homer Strong
Military(**** There may be an error here. It is not evident that this aircraft is 41-24201. This is not the crew who flew in 41-24201 on the Ploesti raid according to the SORTIE REPORT).
Kneeling (L-R):
S/Sgt. Lemuel B Fleming - L Waist Gun,
2nd Lt. William H Strong - Pilot,
2nd Lt. Lyle S. Davenport - CoPilot
2nd Lt. Thomas A. Flaherty - Bombardier,
2nd Lt. David E. McCash - Navigator
Standing (L-R):
S/Sgt. Warren E. Morrison - Tail Gun,
Sgt. Oliver R. Germann - Belly Gun,
T/Sgt. Clarence W. Nelson - Radio Operator
S/Sgt. Elwood W. Harbison,Jr. - Right Waist Gun,
T/Sgt. Edgar O. Hamel - Engineer/Top Turret Gun
Assigned to 506BS, 44BG, 8AF USAAF. TDY 9AF USAAF. Took part in Operation Tidal Wave, the raid on Ploesti on 1-Aug-43, flying in B-24 Liberator 41-24201.
On 16-Aug-43, landed in Malta in 'Baldy and His Brood' 41-24201 on the mission to Foggia, IT while temporarily assigned to the 9th AAC. After about 20 attacks by German aircraft and the crew shooting down at least 3 German aircraft, pilot Strong headed to Malta knowing the British hospital could tend to his wounded men.
Awards: SS, DFC, AM (3OLC), WWII Victory, EAME.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 506th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 37104245
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 506th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 506th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 661606
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 506th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 506th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: Baldy and his Brood
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 801st Bomb Group Base Air Depot 1 506th Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 1 August 1943
- Official Description:
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Pathway
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Oklahoma City, OK | 12 March 1915 | Son of Albert E and Lillie Dena [Crane] Strong. |
Enlisted |
7 August 1941 | ||
Other Discharged USAAF |
6 December 1945 | Honourable discharge. | |
Died |
Wimberley, Hays County, TX | 10 July 1995 | |
Buried |
Wimberley Cemetery Wimberley, Hays County, TX | 13 July 1995 | Wimberley Cemetery Wimberley, Hays County, Texas |
Based |
Shipdham | Assigned to 506BS, 44BG, 8AF USAAF. |
Revisions
https://www.fold3.com/image/538810430
https://www.fold3.com/record/624855100/william-strong-1915-veterans-aff…
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/28010347/william-homer-strong
Removed # from A/C serial No. to aid clarity and consistency
Corrected the A/C S/N in the "Summary biography" - changed '"42-" to "41-".
44th Bomb Group Roll of Honor and Casualties by Will Lundy pp.120-121 / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia