William E Meehan Jr

Military ROLL OF HONOUR
media-23280.jpeg UPL 23280 1LT William E. Meehan, Jr.
Pilot
93rd BG
KIA 1 August 1943, Ploesti, Romania

Object Number - UPL 23280 - 1LT William E. Meehan, Jr. Pilot 93rd BG KIA 1 August 1943, Ploesti, Romania

1st Lt. William E. Meehan was a B-24 pilot in WWII on the B-24D, 42-40804, named, The Lady Jane, and, Bertha, in the 8th Air Force, the 93rd Bomb Group, and the 329th Bombing Squadron TDY to the 9th Bomber Command in Benghazi, Libya, for Operation Tidal Wave, to Ploesti, flying in the left wing position of the last flight, and the second section of “C” Force. Briefed to bomb White lll, Lt. Meehan diverted to a target of opportunity, over Ploesti, was hit by flak and hit a barrage balloon cable, immediately crashing his plane into the ground. 9 Killed in Action (KIA) 1 August 1943 MACR 328.    On the  Ploesti mission with most of his crew, including Lt. Pharis Weekley, his navigator. Most of the dead crewmen could not be identified on sight and were buried in the Tablets Of The Missing at the Florence American Cemetary. Lt. William Meehan was Killed in Action (KIA) 1 August 1943 while on TDY to 9th Air Force on the Ploesti air raid in the B-24D, The Lady Jane,  SN 42-40804. Aircraft Failed To Return - FTR. 9 KIA. 1 POW. 1 Aug 1943.  MACR 328



Awards  -  DFC/ AM/ PH

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 93rd Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 329th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 39832837
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 329th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-739926
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 329th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 33288265
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 329th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-735871
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 329th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 39021986
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Flight Engineer; Top Turret Gunner

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: - The Lady Jane - Bertha
  • Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 329th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Illinois 12 August 1919

Other

Killed in action

Ploieștiori 107071, Romania 1 August 1943 Missing Air Crew Report Details USAAF MACR 328 Target: Concordia Vega (Target White 2) Ploesti Date Lost: 1 Aug 43 Serial Number:42-40804 Aircraft Model B-24D Aircraft Letter: Aircraft Name: The Lady Jane  -  Bertha Location: crashed near Ploestiori Village north of Concordia-Vega refineries 10 crew - 9 KIA  -  1 POW

Buried

Ardennes American Cemetery and Memorial Neuville-en-Condroz Arrondissement de Liège Liège, Belgium Plot: Plot C Row 7 Grave 23

Born

Chicago, IL, USA

Revisions

Date
ContributorKickapoo
Changes
Sources

The Ploesti Raid  - Through The Lens  -  Roger A. Freeman   -   Page  126

Date
ContributorKickapoo
Changes
Sources

The Ploesti Raid  -  Through The Lens  -  Roger A. Freeman   -  B-24D-100-CO,  42-40804, X, The Lady Jane,  -   page 126

Date
Changes
Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

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

William E Meehan: Gallery (3 items)