William Rudolph Asbell

Military

Assigned to 615BS, 401BG, 8AF USAAF. Bill Trimble crew.





Awards: DFC, WWII Victory, EAME (1 x Battle Star).



Post war: Served in Korean and Vietnam conflicts.

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

A pathfinder B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 44-8258) of the 401st Bomb Group. Image by Robert Astrella. Written on slide casing: '48258 14 A, Mount Farm.'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 615th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-36895
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Freckles, Umbriago
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 615th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Little moe
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 615th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Round Tripper
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 614th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Morning Star, Tail End Charlie
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron 615th Bomb Squadron
A crashed B-17 Flying Fortress of the 401st Bomb Group. Image via R Bowers. First handwritten caption on reverse: 'Home on two engines.' Second handwritten caption on reverse: '"Breezing Home" IY-D, 42-40002. 401 BG.'
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Breezing Home
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 615th Bomb Squadron

Missions

  • Date: 6 June 1944
  • Official Description:
  • Date: 3 June 1944
  • Official Description:

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Brooks County, GA 31 July 1924

Enlisted

31 October 1942 Spence Field Moultrie Georgia

Enlisted

14 July 1971

Other

Discharged USAF

31 May 1973 Honourable discharge.

Died

Palm Harbor, FL 25 September 2007

Buried

Florida National Cemetery Bushnell, Sumter County, FL 28 September 2007 Florida National Cemetery Bushnell, Sumter County, Florida

Other

Discharged USAAF

Honourable discharge.