William J Minerich
Military ROLL OF HONOUR
535th Bomb Squadron war diaries. Lt Minerich was killed while flying Tinkertoy on Oct 8th 1943
Object Number - FRE 1258 - Ground personnel of the 381st Bomb Group survey the battle damaged nose of a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 43-39170) nicknamed "Tinker Toy" at...
Pilot, Minerich crew. 381st BG, 535th BS. Killed in Action. 8 October 1943, on Mission #36 to the shipyards at Bremen, Germany. 1Lt Minerich was flying B-17 #42-5846 'Tinker Toy' when he was decapitated by a 20mm shell. The co-pilot, 1Lt Sellers was wounded in the arm by another 20mm shell. He flew the aircraft back to base and was later awarded the DSC.
*Aircraft #42-5846 'Tinker Toy' is sometimes confused with #42-39170 'Tinker Toy Too'.
Connections
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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: 381st Bomb Group 535th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-678337
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Tinker Toy
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 535th Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 8 October 1943
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Died |
8 October 1943 | Lt Minerich was killed by a 20mm cannon shell during the raid to Bremen on October 8th 1943 |
Revisions
381st Bomb Group roster and 242nd Medical Detachment war diary. www.381st.org
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / www.381st.org/UnitHistory/Data/Roster.aspx
