William Featherstone Gilmore

Military
Ten men in Air Force uniform posed in front of an airplane.  Five men standing to the rear, three men kneeling in front, and two men standing at the side. UPL 66001 UPL 66001 384th Bomb Group Lead Crews / 26 July 1943*
FRONT L-R: SGT John R Kelly (RO), SGT Sebastian Bucheri (WG), SGT James Traylor (BT), LT Walter Harvey (Obs./TG - Asst. 544th Ops Ofcr), CAPT William Gilmore (Air Commander and Pilot - 544th CO).
BACK L-R: SGT John Blauer (WG), SGT John Kilcourse (TT), LT Charles Everson (N), LT Robert Kennedy (B), LT Jesse Hausenfluck (P).
*Abortive mission: 384th Air Commander was unable to resolve difficulties of formation recognition during prolonged assembly process, and elected to return to base rather than commit his force to follow an unidentified combat wing to an unknown target.
On

Object Number - UPL 66001 - 384th Bomb Group Lead Crews / 26 July 1943* FRONT L-R: SGT John R Kelly (RO), SGT Sebastian Bucheri (WG), SGT James Traylor (BT), LT Walter Harvey...

Shot down 26 November 1943 in B-17 42-5051 'Barrel House Bessie'. Plane ditched in North Sea, off UK. Returned to base. Later became Commanding Officer of the 482nd BG .

Awards : Silver Star / Purple Heart / Distinguished Flying Cross / Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters.

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 384th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
Lieutenant John C "Red" Morgan of the 482nd Bomb Group with a B-17 Flying Fortress. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Lt Red Morgan, Cong, Med of Hon.'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 13067778
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: waist gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 32373835
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: waist gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 36255285
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 37205337
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19085247 at enlistment, then O-738778
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Barrel House Bessie
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron 546th Bomb Squadron 303rd Bomb Group 305th Bomb Group 366th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Gallatin, Tennessee 17 September 1918 Tennessee

Enlisted

30 July 1940 as an Aviation Cadet in the Air Corps, at Fort McPherson, Atlanta, Georgia

Other

rescued after ditching

26 November 1943 of B-17 42-5051, in the North Sea

Revisions

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

MACR 1579
NARA WWII Enlistment records

Date
Changes
Sources

Merged with duplicate entrios to include details from:
- the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia;
- http://384thbombgroup.com/_content/_pages/person.php?PersonKey=4895;
- MACR 1579;
- Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Whos Who in the Eighth Air Force and/or Biographical Directory Command & Staff Officers Eighth Air Force 1942-45/MACR 1579, http://384thbombgroup.com/_content/_pages/PersonnelSearch.php?LastName=…

William Featherstone Gilmore: Gallery (5 items)