William James Hess

Military
A bomber crew of the 322nd Bomb Group with their B-26 Marauder (serial number 41-31773) nicknamed "Flak Bait" celebrate their aircraft's 200th mission. Image via Peter Dole media-379987.jpg FRE 2203 A bomber crew of the 322nd Bomb Group with their B-26 Marauder (serial number 41-31773) nicknamed "Flak Bait" celebrate their aircraft's 200th mission. Image via Peter Dole From left to right, standing Col. John S Samuel (322nd BG CO) - co-pilot Capt. William G Fort - pilot T/Sgt. William J Hess - tail gunner sitting 1st Lt. William D Brearly - bombardier T/Sgt. Cecil Fisher - radio operator/gunner T/Sgt. Kenneth Locke - engineer/gunner 1st Lt. Arthur D Perkins Roger Freeman Collection

AAM Photo

Object Number - FRE 2203 - A bomber crew of the 322nd Bomb Group with their B-26 Marauder (serial number 41-31773) nicknamed "Flak Bait" celebrate their aircraft's 200th...

Assigned to 364BS, 305BG, 8AF USAAF. Completed tour of duty. Returned to ETO with the 449BS, 322BG, 9AF USAAF until July 1945 [Documents accompany database form]





Awards: DFC, AM (4OLC), GC, WWII Victory, EAME, DUC.

Connections

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

Units served with

Unofficial emblem, 305th Bomb Group.

305th Bomb Group

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

322nd Bomb Group

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

People

Lester Personeus

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 422nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 12027691 / O-47455
  • Highest Rank: Colonel
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

A B-26 Marauder (serial number 41-31773) nicknamed "Flak Bait" of the 322nd Bomb Group. Image via Clarence Lunnemann. Written on slide casing: '"Flak Bait" 200 mission plane, 322nd BG.' Written on duplicate slide: '322BG, Flak Bait Germany, 5/45.'

41-31773

  • Aircraft Type: B-26 Marauder
  • Nicknames: Flak Bait
  • Unit: 322nd Bomb Group 449th Bomb Squadron

42-29529

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Nora 2nd
  • Unit: 96th Bomb Group 306th Bomb Group 305th Bomb Group 322nd Bomb Squadron 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Pittsfield, Massachusetts 12 June 1920 Son Xavier Francis Hess and Louise A [Michel] Hess.

Enlisted

Springfield, MA 7 January 1942 Springfield, Massachusetts

Died

Tuczon, AZ 29 October 2013

Buried

Evergreen Memorial Park, Tucson, Pima County, AZ 31 October 2013 Evergreen Memorial Park Tucson, Pima County, AZ

Based

Chelveston Assigned to 364BS, 305BG, 8AF USAAF.

Based

Andrews Field Assigned to 449BS, 322BG, 9AF USAAF.

Revisions

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

https://www.fold3.com/record/83363568-william-j-hess
https://www.fold3.com/image/161235782?terms=42-29529
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/119808891/william-james-hess

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

https://www.fold3.com/record/83363568-william-j-hess
https://www.fold3.com/image/161235782?terms=42-29529
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/119808891/william-james-hess

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / self

William James Hess: Gallery (4 items)

A bomber crew of the 322nd Bomb Group with their B-26 Marauder (serial number 41-31773) nicknamed "Flak Bait" celebrate their aircraft's 200th mission. Image via Peter Dole

Object number: FRE 2203 - A bomber crew of the 322nd Bomb Group with their B...

Object number: UPL 40132 - "Lt. Personeus and crew of the 305th Bomb Group...

Object number: UPL 40217 - "Lt. Personeus and crew of the 305th Bomb Group...

Object number: UPL 40219 - "Crew of the 96th Bomb Group* pose beside their...