William E Meehan Jr
Military ROLL OF HONOURPilot
93rd BG
KIA 1 August 1943, Ploesti, Romania
1st Lt. William E. Meehan was a B-24 pilot in WWII on the B-24D, 42-40804, named, The Lady Jane, and, Bertha, in the 8th Air Force, the 93rd Bomb Group, and the 329th Bombing Squadron TDY to the 9th Bomber Command in Benghazi, Libya, for Operation Tidal Wave, to Ploesti, flying in the left wing position of the last flight, and the second section of “C” Force. Briefed to bomb White lll, Lt. Meehan diverted to a target of opportunity, over Ploesti, was hit by flak and hit a barrage balloon cable, immediately crashing his plane into the ground. 9 Killed in Action (KIA) 1 August 1943 MACR 328. On the Ploesti mission with most of his crew, including Lt. Pharis Weekley, his navigator. Most of the dead crewmen could not be identified on sight and were buried in the Tablets Of The Missing at the Florence American Cemetary. Lt. William Meehan was Killed in Action (KIA) 1 August 1943 while on TDY to 9th Air Force on the Ploesti air raid in the B-24D, The Lady Jane, SN 42-40804. Aircraft Failed To Return - FTR. 9 KIA. 1 POW. 1 Aug 1943. MACR 328
Awards - DFC/ AM/ PH
Connections
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Units served with
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 329th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 12052800
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 329th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 34265961
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 329th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-673652
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: B-24 Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 329th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 12165921
- Highest Rank: Technician Third Grade
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
Aircraft
Missions
Places
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Illinois | 12 August 1919 | |
Other Killed in action |
Ploieștiori 107071, Romania | 1 August 1943 | Missing Air Crew Report Details USAAF MACR 328 Target: Concordia Vega (Target White 2) Ploesti Date Lost: 1 Aug 43 Serial Number:42-40804 Aircraft Model B-24D Aircraft Letter: Aircraft Name: The Lady Jane - Bertha Location: crashed near Ploestiori Village north of Concordia-Vega refineries 10 crew - 9 KIA - 1 POW |
Buried |
Ardennes American Cemetery and Memorial Neuville-en-Condroz Arrondissement de Liège Liège, Belgium Plot: Plot C Row 7 Grave 23 | ||
Born |
Chicago, IL, USA |
Revisions
The Ploesti Raid - Through The Lens - Roger A. Freeman - B-24D-100-CO, 42-40804, X, The Lady Jane, - page 126
ABMC / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia