William D Sellers

Military ROLL OF HONOUR

media-31464.jpeg UPL 31464 Remembrance plaque to the airmen killed when B-17 42-97578 crash landed on 24 March 1944.

Shared with the American Air Museum by Yelden resident, Jim Timkey.

Object Number - UPL 31464 - Remembrance plaque to the airmen killed when B-17 42-97578 crash landed on 24 March 1944.

Assigned to 422BS, 305BG, 8AF USAAF. B-17 42-97578 stalled after take off for a flight to Deenethorpe and crashed into a barracks on 24 Mar 1944. Killed in Action (KIA).

Awards: AM (2OLC), PH.

Connections

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

Units served with

305th Bomb Group

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

422nd Bomb Squadron

Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
Air Force: Eighth Air Force
Type Category: Bombardment

People

Jack E George

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 305th Bomb Group 422nd Bomb Squadron
Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
Role/Job: Co-Pilot

Joseph N A Grugnale

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 305th Bomb Group 422nd Bomb Squadron
Highest Rank: Corporal
Role/Job: Assistant Crew Chief

Loyde J Judd

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 305th Bomb Group 422nd Bomb Squadron
Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
Role/Job: Waist Gunner

Charles W Leake

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 305th Bomb Group 306th Bomb Group 368th Bomb Squadron 422nd Bomb Squadron
Service Numbers: O-685946
Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
Role/Job: Navigator

Jessie H Lehr

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 305th Bomb Group 401st Bomb Group 422nd Bomb Squadron 612th Bomb Squadron
Service Numbers: 34473124
Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
Role/Job: Radio Operator

Aircraft

42-97578

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Unit: 305th Bomb Group 422nd Bomb Squadron

Places

Cambridge American Cemetery

Site type: Cemetery
Known as: Cambridge American Military Cemetery

Bomber crews from the 401st Bomb Group look over P-51 Mustang, FT-T, serial number 43-12172, of the 353rd Fighter Squadron, 354th Fighter Group, at Deenethorpe airfield. One of their B-17 Flying Fortresses is in the background. Printed caption on reverse of print: '...401st Bomb Group look over a North American P-51 Mustang at an 8th Air Force base in England, 27 December 1943.'

Deenethorpe

Site type: Airfield
Known as: Benefield

Events

Event	Location	Date	Description
Enlisted	San Antonio, TX	27 February 1942	San Antonio, Texas
Died	Yelden, UK	24 March 1944
Buried		25 March 1944	Cambridge American Cemetery Coton, Cambs, UK Plot G Row 6 Grave 1
Born	Alabama
Based	Deenethorpe	24 March 1944	Assigned to 422BS, 305BG, 8AF USAAF.

Revisions

Date15 Mar 2021 12:55:50

ContributorAl_Skiff

Changes

Sources

https://www.fold3.com/image/310763761
https://www.fold3.com/record/529903797/william-d-sellers-american-battl…
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56294230/william-d-sellers
Removed # from A/C serial No. to aid clarity and consistency

Date13 Mar 2021 20:42:49

Contributorjmoore43

Changes

Sources

Removed an association to Jesse Lehr.

Date13 Mar 2021 20:41:28

Contributorjmoore43

Changes

Sources

Removed an association to Jesse Lehr.

Date27 Sep 2014 18:27:53

ContributorAAM

Changes

Sources

Combat Chronology, Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia

William D Sellers: Gallery (1 items)

Object number: UPL 31464 - Remembrance plaque to the airmen killed when B-17...