William Jerome Parks

Military ROLL OF HONOUR
media-42098.png UPL 42098 The Johnston crew, Framlingham, 22 November 1944. 390th Bomb Group / 568th Bomb Squadron (Official USAAF photo).
Top row, from left to right :
1st Lt Gerald W. Johnston; 1st Lt Matthew R. Robinson, Co-Pilot; 1st Lt Donald L. Lash, Navigator; 1st Lt Frank D. O’Neill, Bombardier.
Front row, left to right : T/Sgt Russell P. Hardy, Top Turret Gunner; T/sgt William J. Parks, Radio Operator; S/Sgt Ben Marshall, Ball Turret Gunner; S/Sgt Dayton C. Kelly, Waist Gunner and S/Sgt James S. Lawman, Tail Gunner.

NARA WWII Air Force photos - B-71195A.C.

Object Number - UPL 42098 - The Johnston crew, Framlingham, 22 November 1944. 390th Bomb Group / 568th Bomb Squadron (Official USAAF photo). Top row, from left to right : 1st...

William Parks was Radio Operator on B-17 "Bob Tail Battler" #42-102677. Crashed at Garlitz, Germany on 14 January 1945. Killed In Action (KIA).

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 390th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 568th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 35790365
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 568th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 14095884 at enlistment, then O-817574
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 568th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 18124447
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 568th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19151210 at enlistment, then O-723383
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 568th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 35752433
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Mississippi Mission, Bob Tail Battler
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 568th Bomb Squadron

Missions

  • Date: 14 January 1945

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

16 April 1920 Scottsboro, Jackson County, Alabama

Enlisted

4 June 1942 Birmingham, Alabama

Other

Killed In Action (KIA

14 January 1945 near Garlitz, 15km North of Brandenburg, Germany, in the crash of B-17 #42-102677

Buried

17 January 1945 Barnewitz cemetery, 5km East of Garlitz, Germany
Scottsboro, Jackson County, Alabama

Buried

after the war, his remains were brought back to the USA. William Parks rests at the Cedar Hill Cemetery, Scottsboro, Alabama

Revisions

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

MACR 11725
NARA WWII Enlistment records
WWII Draft card
NARA - German captured documents : KU-3569 at https://catalog.archives.gov/id/147911915

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

MACR 11725

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added a "-" to the A/C serial number in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 11725 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

William Jerome Parks: Gallery (1 items)