William Kenneth Stevens
Military ROLL OF HONOURKilled in Action (KIA)
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 492nd Bomb Group
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 856th Bomb Squadron 492nd Bomb Group
- Service Numbers: O-785613
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Died |
Kirkwall Airport, Orkney Islands | 31 March 1945 | William served as a Sergeant & Engineer / Gunner on B-24H #42-50331, 856th Bomber Squadron, 492nd Bomber Group, U.S. Army Air Force during World War II. He resided in Merrimack County, New Hampshire prior to the war. He enlisted in the Army on April 12, 1943 in Manchester, New Hampshire. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being employed as a Mechanic and also as Single, without dependents. B-24H #42-50331 took off from Harrington Northhampshire on March 30, 1945 in support of Operation Rype forces in Norway. They were one of 19 B-24's on this mission. The B-24's ran into bad weather and B-24H #42-50331 was one of the planes to turn back and head for their base. On the way back they ran into fuel problems and 2 of the 4 engines stopped and they couldn't be restarted. The pilot, 2nd Lt. Polansky, gave the order to bailout however only the Co-Pilot, 1st Lt. Pulrang was able to do so. The B-24 ended up crashing in a field located in St Ola, southeast of Kirkwall, Scotland during the war. William was "Killed In Action" in this crash. He was awarded the Purple Heart. Service # 31268922 |
Revisions
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources
Combat Chronology / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia