William Howard McChesney

Military
media-46318.jpeg UPL 46318 P-47D-11-RE #42-75459 "Black Magic" Code C4-X
365th Fighter Group - 388th Fighter Squadron - 9th AF

Personal collection

Object Number - UPL 46318 - P-47D-11-RE #42-75459 "Black Magic" Code C4-X 365th Fighter Group - 388th Fighter Squadron - 9th AF

Connections

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Units served with

People

Arthur William Bessette

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 365th Fighter Group 388th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 11038361
  • Highest Rank: Technician Fourth Grade
  • Role/Job: Aircraft Mechanic

John Stephens McCatherin

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 365th Fighter Group 388th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 31153324
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade)
  • Role/Job: Ground Crew Chief/Aircraft Mechanic

Aircraft

42-75459

  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Nicknames: Black Magic
  • Unit: 365th Fighter Group 388th Fighter Squadron

Places

Azeville

  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Fontanay-Sur-Mer

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Chicago, IL 10 February 1922

Enlisted

Pittsburgh, PA 9 May 1942

Other

365th FG Overseas Tour

RAF Beaulieu 27 March 1944 - 16 October 1944 Moved to: A-7 Azeville - 27 June 1944 A-48 Bretigny - 3 Sept 1944 A-68 Juvincourt - 11 Sept 1944 70 Combat Missions

Died

Brookville, PA 23 April 2017 Colonel William H. McChesney, 95, formerly of Widnoon, PA, and recently of Brookville, PA, passed away peacefully on April 23, 2017 after a brief illness. He was born in 1922 in Chicago, IL, to William and Emily (Newman) McChesney, and his parents returned to their native Pittsburgh soon after. William graduated from Peabody High School in 1940 and enrolled in Westminster College. After the start of World War II, he volunteered for the US Army Air Corps and was trained as a P-47 fighter pilot. He was then deployed to North Africa and then to England with the 365th Fighter Group. From February to August 1944 he flew 70 combat missions, including two on D-Day. On August 25, 1944, his plane was shot down over Dijon, France. Colonel McChesney was captured by German troops and held for seven days before escaping and making contact with the French Underground, who for three weeks guided him across France to the safety of the American lines. Colonel McChesney was highly decorated and his medals included three Purple Hearts, three Bronze Stars, seven Air Medals and the Distinguished Flying Cross. France also awarded him their highest national honor, the National Order of the Legion of Honor. Bill returned home, graduated from Westminster College and married the love of his life, Betty Womer, of Eldred, PA. Their blessed union lasted 54 years and bore them sons, William (Diane) and Scott (Kathy), daughter, Lane (Gene), five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife and his brother and best friend, Colonel Robert N. McChesney, USAF. Colonel McChesney remained active in the US Air Force Reserve and, in addition to working in the home building business and the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, was elected Penn Hills Commissioner. Bill raised beef cattle on his farm in Widnoon and, along with his wife, enjoyed a quiet retirement. He was a devout Episcopalian and a member of St. Mary's Church in Redbank, PA. William has gone home to the Lord.
Verona, PA

Revisions

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

http://hellhawks.org/388_roster.html
https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/3147/images/43191_6473…
http://www.americanairmuseum.com/unit/312
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/178747987/william-howard-mcchesney

William Howard McChesney: Gallery (1 items)

Object number: UPL 46318 - P-47D-11-RE #42-75459 "Black Magic" Code C4-X...