William R Purser
Military
Arowe95
Object Number - UPL 30202 - William R. Purser, Rayburn Crew. 381st BG, 534th BS. POW
TT/ENG, Rayburn Crew. 381st BG, 534th BS, 8th AF. Shot down 19 April 1944 in B-17 #42-38004 "Ol' Man Tucker". Mission #94 to the airfield at Eschwege, Germany. MACR 4052. Landed near S/Sgt DeForest E. Main and assisted with his wounds. Together they were captured by local townsfolk. Avoided the Gestapo and imprisoned by the Luftwaffe. Prisoner of War (POW).
Big Spring, TX
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
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 534th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 34315592
- Highest Rank: Master Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 534th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-810115
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 534th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 13107939
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 534th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 0812971
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 534th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 32213378
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Ol Man Tucker
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 534th Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 19 April 1944
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Big Spring, TX | 24 August 1922 | |
|
Based Prisoner of War (POW) |
25 February 1944 - 19 April 1944 | ||
|
Other Prisoner of War |
19 April 1944 | ||
|
Died |
Big Spring, TX | 25 March 1999 | |
|
Buried |
Trinity Memorial Park Big Spring, TX |
Revisions
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 4052 / MACR 4052, www.381st.org/UnitHistory/Data/Roster.aspx / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database
