William Howard Downey
MilitaryWilliam Downey was a Co-Pilot in the 94th Bomb Group / 410th Bomb Squadron. Shot down in B-24 #42-29710 on the 29 May 1943 mission to naval depots in Rennes, France. Prisoner of War (POW).
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 94th Bomb Group 410th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 19065021 and O-729712
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 94th Bomb Group 410th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 32461783
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 94th Bomb Group 410th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 16065347
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Engineer / Top Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 94th Bomb Group 410th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 37195457
- Highest Rank: Private First Class
- Role/Job: waist gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 94th Bomb Group 410th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 35437505
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Hell Below
- Unit: 94th Bomb Group 410th Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 29 May 1943
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Monterey, California, United States | 17 May 1918 | the son of William G. and Rose Downey |
Other Prisoner of War (POW) |
Żagań, Poland | 29 May 1943 - 29 April 1945 | Interned in Stalag Luft 3, Sagan, Poland. On forced march from there to Stalag 7a Moosburg, Germany where he was liberated by US troops. NARA WWII POW records : “Returned to Military control 27 April 1945.“ |
Other Made prisoner |
Saint-Briac-sur-Mer, France | 29 May 1943 | Captured on 29 May near Saint-Briac-sur-Mer. |
Died |
Sacramento, California, United States | 1 September 2001 | |
Burlingame, San Mateo County, California, United States | |||
Buried |
William Downey rests at Section 65, Grave 3101 |
Revisions
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 15139 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database