William Elmer Bryan Jr
Military
Object Number - UPL 29418 - Major William E “Bill” Bryan Jr [ Flint MI ] 503rd Fighter Squadron. P-51D 44-15074 D7-J/ “Big Noise”.
Assigned to 503FS, 339FG, 8AF USAAF. Ended 2 x Tours of Duty (ETD). 114 x combat missions. Credited with 8.5 kills.
Awards: DSC, DSM, DFC (4OLC), AM (23OLC), LOM, Bronze Star, WWII Victory, EAME, Croix de Guerre, UN and Korean Medal.
Post war: Remained in USAF serving in Korean war flying 121 x combat missions in F-51's, flew a mission from Thailand to North Vietnam. Thus he would declare that he flew fighters in three wars. Rose to rank of Major General.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
- Unit: 339th Fighter Group 503rd Fighter Squadron
- Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
- Unit: 339th Fighter Group 503rd Fighter Squadron
- Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
- Nicknames: Big Noise
- Unit: 339th Fighter Group 503rd Fighter Squadron
- Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
- Unit: 339th Fighter Group 503rd Fighter Squadron
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Genesee County, MI, USA | 5 October 1921 | Son of William Elmer and Mabel Alta [Willett] Bryan. |
|
Enlisted |
Flint, MI, USA | 27 March 1942 | |
|
Other End Tour of Duty (ETD) |
England, UK | 1 September 1944 | Ended Tour of Duty (ETD) 1. |
|
Other Promotion |
Fowlmere, Royston SG8, UK | 26 February 1945 | Promoted to Major. |
|
Other End Tour of Duty (ETD) |
England, UK | 7 September 1945 | Ended Tour of Duty (ETD) 2. |
|
Other Retired |
United States | 1 June 1974 | Retired USAF 1-Jun-74. |
|
Died |
Ocean Springs, MS 39564, USA | 6 April 2008 | |
|
Other Promotion |
Fowlmere, Royston SG8, UK | Promoted to 1st Lieutenant. | |
|
Based Transferred |
Fowlmere | 7 September 1945 | Assigned to 503FS, 339FG, 8AF USAAF. |
| Flint, MI, USA | |||
|
Other Promotion |
Fowlmere, Royston SG8, UK | Promoted to Captain. | |
|
Buried |
