William Emerson Current
Military
Change to key image
Object Number - UPL 15293
Shot down 5 November 1943 in B-17 #42-30789 'Flak Suit'. William Current landed at the Ruiter in Waasmunster, to the West of Lokeren, Belgium, and was quickly captured on 5 November 1943. It seems that Lt Current, kept after his arrest in a cellar in the city of Sint-Niklaas, Belgium, with Bramwell, Smith, Meader and Sage, was separated from them and interned for a while at the Breendonck prison near Antwerp. From there, he was sent to Dulag Luft in Oberursel, ending up in Stalag Luft 1, where he met his Navigator Charles Smith. The camp was liberated by Russian troops on 30 April 1945. Prisoner of War (POW).
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: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 100th Bomb Group 388th Bomb Group 563rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 19081294 and O-740736
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 563rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 19053337
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 563rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 37428551
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 563rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 34362270
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Engineer / Top Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 563rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 31009110 AND O-676310
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Flak Suit
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 563rd Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 5 November 1943
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Enlisted |
Newark, New Jersey, United States | 25 November 1941 | Enlisted as a Private in the Air Corps |
|
Other Prisoner of War (POW) |
Barth, Germany | 5 November 1943 - 8 June 1945 | NARA WWII POW database "Stalag Luft 1 - returned to military control 8/6/45" |
|
Born |
New Jersey, United States | ||
| Ogdensburg, Sussex County, New Jersey, United States | at the time of his enlistment |
Revisions
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 3137 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database
