William Elmer Bryan Jr

Military
media-29418.jpeg UPL 29418 Major William E “Bill” Bryan Jr [ Flint MI ] 503rd Fighter Squadron. P-51D 44-15074 D7-J/ “Big Noise”.

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

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

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.

Born

Flint, MI, USA

Other

Promotion

Fowlmere, Royston SG8, UK Promoted to Captain.

Buried

William Elmer Bryan: Gallery (2 items)