William Lester Beggs

Military ROLL OF HONOUR

Was on board B-24 #42-52447, which collided on 16 August 1944 above Zerbst, Germany, with B-24 #42-51098 of the same Squadron. Crashed near Mosigkau, 7km SW of Dessau, Germany, about 200m from the crash location of 447. Killed In Action (KIA). Still listed as Missing In Action (MIA).

Connections

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Units served with

A pathfinder B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-51681) of the 453rd Bomb Group flies in formation with a fellow Liberator of the 453rd and and a pathfinder Liberator of the 445th Bomb Group. Image via Alan Rowsell.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 445th Bomb Group 703rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 33516148
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 445th Bomb Group 703rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-713104
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 445th Bomb Group 703rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-400669
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 445th Bomb Group 703rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 33705549
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: waist gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 445th Bomb Group 703rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 12220123
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Unit: 445th Bomb Group 703rd Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Signal Squares on the airfield at Tibenham, B-24 Liberators of the 398th Bomb Group are visible in the background. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Tibenham Signal Squares.'
  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Tivetshall

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Groveland, Livingston County, New York 4 June 1922

Enlisted

20 October 1942 Buffalo, New York

Other

Killed in Action (KIA)

Mosigkau, Germany 16 August 1944 in the crash of 42-52447, Mosigkau, 7km SW of Dessau, Germany
Groveland, New York

Other

Henri-Chapelle, Belgium William Beggs is Memorialized on the Walls of the Missing at the Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery, Belgium

Revisions

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

MACR 8431
"Dixie Flyer" was 42-52247 not 42-52447...

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

MACR 8431
NARA WWII Enlistment records
WWII Draft card
ABMC website

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Birsic, ABMC, MACR 8431, 2AD Roll of Honor / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 8431 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database