William Thomas Auston

Military

On 3-Jan-43 in B-24D 41-23771 while serving as Navigator the aircraft made a crash-landing near Puncheston, Pembrokeshire when it ran out of fuel upon return from a mission to St. Nazaire, France. He was injured but Returned to Duty (RTD)



On 17-May-43 in B24-D 42-40130 "Avenger II" while serving as Navigator the aircraft developed engine trouble on a mission to Bordeaux, France. The pilot made the decision to fly the aircraft to Lugo-de-Llanera airfield at Asturias, Spain and the entire crew was interned. They were taken to Gibraltar and returned to England on 8-Aug-43.



Awards: AM (OLC), PH, WWII Victory, EAME.



Post war: Served in Korean conflict.

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 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'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Aircraft

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

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Tiptonville, Lake, TN 12 September 1915 Son of Grover Cleveland and Berah [Highfill] Auston.

Other

Returned to Duty (RTD)

Puncheston, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire SA62, UK 3 January 1943 On 3-Jan-43 in B-24D 41-23771 the aircraft made a crash-landing near Puncheston, Pembrokeshire when it ran out of fuel upon return from a mission to St. Nazaire, France. He was uninjured and Returned to Duty.

Other

Interned

Asturias, Spain 17 May 1943 - 8 August 1943 On 17-May-43 in B-24D 42-40130 "Avenger II" the aircraft developed engine trouble and made a forced landing at Lugo-de-Llanera airfield at Asturias, Spain. He was interned but was taken to Gibraltar and Returned to England on 8-Aug-43.

Enlisted

11 July 1949

Other

Discharged USAF

15 July 1965 Honourable discharge.

Died

Caribou, ME 5 May 1989

Buried

East Side Cemetery Martin, Weakley County, TN 8 May 1989 East Side Cemetery Martin, Weakley County, Tennessee

Based

Assigned to 66BS, 44BG, 8AF USAAF.

Enlisted

Other

Discharged USAAF

Honourable discharge.

Revisions

Date
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Roll of Honor, Losses of the 8th and 9th Air Forces Vol. 1 by Bishop and Hey p. 61, MACR 3301, 44th BG Roll of Honor and Casualties by Lundy p. 38, The 44th BG in WWII by MacKay and Adams p.27

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 1-Feb-43. New entry, all information correlated from data in "Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces" Stan Bishop & John A Hey MBE. No MACRs were issued for either event.