William J Heather Jr
Military ROLL OF HONOURKilled in Action (KIA) on B-26 mission to Dieppe Port Area. Heavy flak. 5 may 44
The rest of the crew consisted of: Capt. Clark T. Dean, Bombardier, 0-663242; 1 Lt. Curtis E. "Buck" Wheat, Navigator, 0-731349; 1 Lt. Arthur J. Smyth, "Gee" Navigator, 0-791865; S/sgt Raymond D. Hamley, Engineer/gunner, 20213665; T/sgt. Richard G. Keefer, Radio/gunner, 13087561; 2 Lt. Frank L. Watkins, Tail gunner, 0-2045203.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-26 Marauder
- Unit: 323rd Bomb Group
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Died |
20 May 1944 | Major Heather was the pilot of "Battlin Bitch", a B26 out of Earls Colne, northwest of London near Colchester. The plane was most likely in the Box Lead position, indicated by the presence of a bombardier, Capt. Dean Clark (In a typical Box Formation, only the lead plane carried a bombardier, the other planes dropping their bombs on the signal from the lead ship). They also carried a "Gee" navigator, Lt. Arthur Smyth, indicating the use of radar. They were on a bombing raid over Dieppe in anticipation of D-Day. There was heavy flak over the target, and the left engine was hit. The engine was smoking but the plane appeared to be under control. The plane was heading back to England after completing the run on the target, but the damage was too extensive and the plane turned back toward France. Between 1900 and 2000 (local), the plane was seen to lose altitude and crash into the Channel in the area of Dieppe. No wreckage was found, or bodies recovered save that of S/Sgt. Raymond Hamley (engineer/gunner), whose body washed ashore in France some time later, and was later buried at the Normandy American Museum. |
Revisions
b26.com/Trevor Allen; after action report; us militaria forum (search for Raymond Hamley 20213665), citing MACR4966 and Hamley's IDPF.
Combat Chronology, Marauder Men / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia