Taffy James Williams
Military ROLL OF HONOURTechnical Sergeant Taffy J. Williams was Radio Operator on B-24 #42-95240 on a supply mission to aid the 17th US Airborne during Operation Varsity on 24 March 1945. The plane was hit by groundfire shortly after dropping the supplies in the Wesel area, Germany. The plane flew at 300 ft and after being hit the B-24 nosed straight down into the ground and exploded. Taffy Williams and the eight other crew members on board were killed instantly.
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
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 389th Bomb Group 564th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 18159921 at enlistment, then O-2005728
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 389th Bomb Group 564th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 19181308
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Nose Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 389th Bomb Group 564th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 18025633 at enlistment, then O-2000262
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 389th Bomb Group 564th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 36560983
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Flight Engineer / Top Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 389th Bomb Group 564th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 42091683
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: The Old Veteran
- Unit: 389th Bomb Group 564th Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 24 March 1945
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
20 June 1924 | China Grove, North Carolina, USA, the son of James B. and Rosa | |
|
Enlisted |
30 March 1943 | at Camp Croft, South Carolina | |
|
Died |
24 March 1945 | in the loss of “The Old Veteran,” B-24 tail #42-95240 when it went down over Wesel, Germany. The entire crew was killed in the crash. | |
| Concord, Cabarrus County, North Carolina | |||
|
Buried |
Taffy Williams rests at the US Military Cemetery at Margraten, Holland. Plot D Row 1 Grave 25 |
Revisions
Completed Bill Beigel's page (many of them on this site lack details and connections...)
NARA WWII Enlistment records
WWII Draft Cards for North Carolina
MACR 13543
IDPF and/or crash report researched by Bill Beigel. IDPF donated to American Air Museum by Bill Beigel. For more information about this flyer, you may contact http://ww2research.com.
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / taffy williams website