Billy Clyde Lawrence

Military

Assigned to 569th 390BG, 8AF USAAF. Shot down 15-Aug-43 in B-17F 42-3306 baled out successfully. Prisoner of War (POW). MACR 258.



Awards: POW, WWII Victory, EAME.

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

The insignia of the 390th Bomb Group.

390th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

Joseph A Birdwell

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 569th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 13042980 / O-798731
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator

Patrick Caron

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 569th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 32446513
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: waist gunner

Romaine M Fiffe

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 569th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 37228204
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: waist gunner

Francis Xavier Harkins

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 569th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 12053426 / O-735310
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier

Walter Joseph Sentkoski

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 569th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 33234285
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner

Aircraft

A B-17 Flying Fortress of the 390th Bomb Group crashes near Dunkirk whilst flying with a mission with B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-5914), 15 August 1943. Handwritten caption on reverse: '385BG.' Printed caption on reverse: '25620 USAF - Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" going down over area south of Dunkirk, occupied France. U.S. Air Force Photo.'

42-3306

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Phoenix
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 569th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Stalag Luft III

  • Site type: Prisoner of war camp
  • Known as: Stalag Luft III, Sagan, Germany

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Greenville, TX, USA 22 September 1918 Son of Mr C F and Mrs Lola [Little] Lawrence.

Enlisted

4783 Andrews Ave, San Antonio, TX 78236, USA 18 June 1941 Brooks Field San Antonio TX, USA

Other

Shot down / baled out

59670 Bavinchove, France 15 August 1943 Shot down 15-Aug-43 in B-17F 42-3306 baled out successfully. Prisoner of War (POW). MACR 258.

Other

Evaded (EVD)

France 15 August 1943 - 20 August 1943 Evaded (EVD) capture.

Other

Prisoner of War (POW)

Zagan, Poland 20 August 1943 Prisoner of War (POW). Stalag Luft III.

Other

Captured

Dunkirk, France 20 August 1943 Captured by German troops Dunkirk.

Died

Fort Worth, TX, USA 23 January 1997

Based

Framlingham 15 August 1943 Assigned to 569th 390BG, 8AF USAAF.

Other

1930 Census

Nueces County, TX, USA Census finds Billy living with his Mother Lola under his Grandfather John W Little's roof.

Other

Flight training

Stockton Metropolitan Airport, 5000 S Airport Way, Stockton, CA 95206, USA Advanced flight training Stockton AAF, CA.

Buried/ Commemorated

Fort Worth, TX, USA Greenwood Memorial Park and Mausoleum Fort Worth Tarrant County Texas, USA

Revisions

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

https://www.fold3.com/page/58213962_billy_c%20lawrence/details/
https://www.fold3.com/image/29419192
https://www.fold3.com/page/84744607_billy_c%20lawrence/details/
https://www.fold3.com/image/117475262/?terms=Billy%20C%20Lawrence
https://www.fold3.com/image/117475262/?terms=Billy%20C%20Lawrence
https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=60212339

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 258 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database