William Wesley Williams Jr
MilitaryEvery time I go into my Dad's web page, I have to reenter items that go away.
In August 1944, William Williams flew as Co-Pilot with the Lt. C. D. Garrett crew.
Here is a listing of their missions for that month:
August 3rd, 5th, 9th, and 12th are all in 43-37837 JJ-K ''STAG PARTY''.
August 13th, Garrett crew flies in 43-38014 JJ-P ''NAUGHTY VIRGIN''.
August 14th, 16th, 18th, they revert back to what certainly seems to be their regular ship, 43-37837 JJ-K ''STAG PARTY''.
August 24th, the Garrett crew fly as air-spare to the mission, using 43-38030 JJ-E ''MY ACHIN' B''. The next day, they completed the mission
August 25th, again in 43-38030 JJ-E ''MY ACHIN' B''.
August 30th, Garrett with Williams Jr as Co-Pilot go back to their regular ship 43-37837 JJ-K ''STAG PARTY''.
The regular Navigator with the Garrett crew was John Zampatti.
Others who appear on the Garrett crew almost every mission as above are:
Tail Gunner S/Sergeant Clour
Waist Gunner S/Sergeant Hall
Engineer T/Sergeant Dinan
Radio Operator T/Sergeant Vivona
The other positions do vary slightly, not sure on the original make up of the Garrett crew upon arrival at the 305th. It does look as if Garrett and my father arrived at the 422nd as replacements in late June 1944, to re-equip the Sqn with personnel to fly daylight missions once again.
This is just a couple of months worth of information given to me by Ian D. White, Vice President, Group Historian, UK-European Contact, 305th Bomb Group Memorial Association.
All I know from my father was that he flew 35 combat missions. He didn't talk much about his experiences there, except to say he came in with one engine and wasn't sure if he was going to make it. I have all my father's original documents, including most of his medals.
Presidential Citation for meritorious achievement in aerial combat, and the Distinguished Unit Badge as a Flying Fortress pilot based in England; and several other medals.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
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
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Stag Party
- Unit: 305th Bomb Group 422nd Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Naughty Virgin
- Unit: 305th Bomb Group 422nd Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: My Achin B
- Unit: 305th Bomb Group 422nd Bomb Squadron
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Jefferson County, AL | 4 January 1922 | Son of William Wesley Snr and Willie Estelle [Whisenant] Williams. |
Died |
New Orleans | 17 February 1979 | |
Buried |
Prien Memorial Park Cemetery, Lake Charles, LA | 22 February 1979 | Prien Memorial Park Cemetery Lake Charles, Calcasieu Parish, LA |
Based |
Thurleigh | Assigned to 422BS, 305BG, 8AF USAAF. | |
Beamont, TX |
Revisions
Added B-17's that I know my Father piloted/co-piloted during WWII in Chelveston, England.
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / daughter