Willis DeWitt Boatwright

Military
media-22015.jpeg UPL 22015 The Harold Tucker Crew pictured in front of "Our Baby" in Dalhart, Texas, 1944.
Kneeling, from left : Pilot Harold H. Tucker; Copilot Robert A. Greenwood; Navigator Samuel R. Detwiler Jr; Bombardier Walter Slemensky.
Standing, from left : Engineer/Gunner Lawrence L. Witt; Radio Operator James A. Davis Jr; Ball Turret Gunner Willis D. Boatright; Top Turret Gunner Lloyd D. Stoller; Tail Gunner Jennings C. Greuter.
[ Not pictured : Waist Gunner Lavern R. Maisak ] - Picture courtesy of Laura Edge, daughter of Engineer Lawrence Witt.

Corrected position of the men in the photo

Object Number - UPL 22015 - The Harold Tucker Crew pictured in front of "Our Baby" in Dalhart, Texas, 1944. Kneeling, from left : Pilot Harold H. Tucker; Copilot Robert A....

Willis Boatright was a Ball Turret Gunner in the 96th Bomb Group / 339th Bomb Squadron. Shot down 12 May 1944 in B-17 #42-107123. Prisoner of War (POW).

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 96th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 96th Bomb Group 339th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 32740208
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 96th Bomb Group 339th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 11083341 and O-709308
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 96th Bomb Group 339th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 12099172 and O-818664
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 96th Bomb Group 339th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 35545269
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 96th Bomb Group 339th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19011806
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 96th Bomb Group 339th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Louisiana, United States 10 October 1919

Enlisted

Jacksonville AAF, Florida, United States 9 April 1941

Other

Prisoner of War (POW)

12 May 1944 Captured near Usingen, Germany, he was interned at Stalag Luft 4 in Gross Tychow/Tychowo, Poland. Moved from there, he was liberated at Stalag 7A in Moosburg, Germany. NARA WWII POW records : "returned to Military control 1 June 1945."

Died

Monroe, Louisiana, United States 30 May 2016

Buried

Mulhearn Memorial Park Cemetery, Monroe, Louisiana, United States

Revisions

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

MACR 5359
WWII Enlistment Records
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 5359 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

Willis DeWitt Boatwright: Gallery (1 items)