William F Vance

Military
media-33501.jpeg UPL 33501 Second Lieutenant William F. Vance, Ball Turret Gunner, 381st Bomb Group Charles D Taylor collection

"Iowans of the Mighty Eighth", Chapter 22 "Biographies", by Charles D Taylor.

Object Number - UPL 33501 - Second Lieutenant William F. Vance, Ball Turret Gunner, 381st Bomb Group

BTG, Fricks, R. crew. 381st BG, 534th BS.

At Ridgewell he flew on 25 missions, the most memorable that to Schweinfurt on 17 August 1943 when the Group lost 11 aircraft. Promoted from Technical Sergeant to 2nd Lieutenant on 31 January, 1944 he transferred to the 384th at Grafton Underwood , went back to the States to qualify as an observer then returned to the group as a trainer.



DFC; Air Medal 3 clusters

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 381st Bomb Group.

381st Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
The insignia of the 384th Bomb Group.

384th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

Robert B Calhoun

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 534th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 34442173
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner

Martin H Downey

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 534th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-741976
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot

Robert O Fricks

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 534th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-793755
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Raymond P Lyons

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 534th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-670765
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Navigator

Guy F Phillips

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 534th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 14104241
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner / Flight Engineer

Events

Event Location Date Description
Des Moines, IA, USA

Other

Tranferred

After receiving direct commission as a Second Lieutenant, transferred to 384th BG, Grafton Underwood, England.

Revisions

Date
ContributorHelen
Changes
Sources

Iowans of the Mighty Eighth

Date
ContributorARowe95
Changes
Sources

ARowe95

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / www.381st.org/UnitHistory/Data/Roster.aspx, 381st Bomb Group Memorial Association, March 1999

William F Vance: Gallery (2 items)

Object number: UPL 33500 - Second Lieutenant William F. Vance, after...

Object number: UPL 33501 - Second Lieutenant William F. Vance, Ball Turret...