William F Welsh

Military ROLL OF HONOUR

Killed in Action (KIA) 26-Feb-43 in B-24D 41-23777 'Maisey', 44BG/66BS while serving as Tail Gunner. The aircraft was attacked by German figthers, exploded in mid-air and crashed near Willbroksmoor, Germany while on a mission to Wilhelmshaven, Germany. Killed in Action (KIA). Journalist Robert Post was a journalist passenger on this flight and was also killed.

Connections

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

Units served with

The insignia of the 44th Bomb Group.

44th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
A B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-95260) nicknamed "Lili Marlene" of the 66th Bomb Squadron, 44th Bomb Group flies in formation with two comrades. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'B-24 H & B-24 J OF 44th B.G. 66th Sqdn'

66th Bomb Squadron

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

Aircraft

41-23777

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Maisie
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 66th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

London, New Hampshire, USA

Other

Killed in Action (KIA)

Willbroksmoor, 26160 Bad Zwischenahn, Germany 26 February 1943 Killed when the aircraft was attacked by fighters, exploded in mid-air and crashed near Willbroksmoor, Germany

Buried

New London, NH, USA Origiannly buried by the Germans in the Evangleical Parish Cemetery at Bad Zwischenahn, Germany. Reinterred in the Ardenne s American Cemetery in the same Plot and Row beside his crewmates and after the war his remains were repatraited to London, New Hampshire USA.

Revisions

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 21-Jun-2015. Added decorations and Burial event per American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) records; MACR 16067; Made connections to Place and Mission within existing website data; Added KIA event and location; Added A/C model number and Unit designations in Biography. Added loss details in Summary Biography per "Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces", Stan Bishop & John A. Hey MBE; and MACR 16067.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 16067 / MACR 16067, Losses of the 8th and 9th AFs Vol. 1 by Bishop and Hey p. 81, The 44th BG Roll of Honor and Casualties by Lundy pp. p. 52-54 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database