William John Barrett
Military ROLL OF HONOUR
Object Number - UPL 22607 - TSgt William J Barrett was a B-17 radio operator during WWII, assigned to 91st BG 323rd BS. Killed in action on 17 aug 43, flying aboard 42-29559...
Shot down 17 August 1943 in B-17 #42-29559 'Stupntakit'. Killed in Action (KIA).
2 other crew members were killed; 4 were seriously wounded and made prisoner (POW); 3 others managed to evade capture, but one of them was caught just before reaching Spain. See the evaders' pages at www.evasioncomete.be (search on 42-29559)
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group The Ragged Irregulars 323rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 19040558 and O-729796
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot / Co-pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group The Ragged Irregulars 323rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 15068629
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Engineer / Top Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group The Ragged Irregulars 323rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 17063087 and O-733617
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group The Ragged Irregulars 323rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 32351637
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Assistant Engineer / waist gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group The Ragged Irregulars 323rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 13031786
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Assistant Radio Operator / Ball Turret Gunner
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Stupntakit
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group The Ragged Irregulars 323rd Bomb Squadron
Missions
![Regensburg, after being bombed by B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 385th Bomb Group, 17 August 1943. Official caption on image: "(O-5-1-385)(17-8-43)(30171-6 3/8 - 24,000)(Regensberg)." Passed for publication 6 Sep 1943. Printed caption on reverse: '#44: View of the target.' Censor no: 282458. On reverse: US Army Press Censor ETO and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps].](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-413725.jpg.webp?itok=AMwIgGyH)
- Date: 17 August 1943
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA | 11 October 1908 | |
|
Enlisted |
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States | 10 April 1942 | |
|
Other Killed in Action (KIA) |
near Testelt, Belgium | 17 August 1943 | Was in the plane when it blew up. His remains were found in the wreckage and buried at the Saint-Trond (Sint-Truiden), Belgium, military cemetery on 19 August 1943. After the war, they were transferred to the Ardennes American military cemetery. |
|
Buried |
Ardennes American Cemetery and Memorial | William Barrett rests at Plot A, Row 35, Grave 6 |
Revisions
Updated link to the page at www.evasioncomete.be
Added punctuation in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity.
MACR 278
WWII Enlistment records
WWII Draft card
ABMC website
Associated image from http://www.findagrave.com
NARA WWII Enlistment records
MACR 278
American Battle Monuments Commission
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 278 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database
