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