William Rigebert Dwyer

Military ROLL OF HONOUR
media-7452.jpeg UPL 7452 LT William R. Dwyer
Pilotage Navigator
Crew #519 - John C. MacDonald Crew

Went missing with his crew on 11 May 1944 mission to bomb the marshaling yards at Epinal, France. The aircraft, B-24H-25-DT #41-28694 "Merchant of Venice", was last seen with one engine feathered and a 2nd engine smoking. Pilot was heard over the radio saying he was going to try to make it to Switzerland. That was last anyone saw of the plane or crew.

466th BG Historian

Object Number - UPL 7452 - LT William R. Dwyer Pilotage Navigator Crew #519 - John C. MacDonald Crew Went missing with his crew on 11 May 1944 mission to bomb the...

Assigned to 785BS, 466BG, 8AF USAAF. Shot down 11-May-44 in B-24 41-28664 'Merchant Of Venice'. Killed in Action (KIA). MACR 4802



Awards: AM, PH.

Connections

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

Units served with

Three little girls hold up a balloon celebrating the 100th mission of the 466th Bomb Group in front of a B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-95592) nicknamed "Black Cat". Handwritten caption on reverse: 'On our 100 Mission party Day- 18 Aug 1944, Attlebridge, 466th- wouldn't it be something if we could identify these girls? How could I do it?'

466th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

John C MacDonald

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 785th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-526631
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

41-28664

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Merchant of Venice
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 785th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Aerial photograph of Attlebridge airfield, looking north, the fuel store and a T2 hangar are in the upper centre, 31 January 1946. Photograph taken by No. 90 Squadron, sortie number RAF/3G/TUD/UK/51. English Heritage (RAF Photography).

Attlebridge

  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Attlebridge Arsenal, Station 120

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

New Haven, CT 4 January 1916 Son of William Michael Dwyer.

Enlisted

New Haven, CT 18 March 1941 New Haven, Connecticut

Other

466th bG Combat Tour

Attlebridge 22 March 1944 - 11 May 1944 The crew were on their 15th mission when they were shot down.

Died

Eastern France 11 May 1944 Shot down 11 May 1944 in B-24 41-28664 'Merchant Of Venice'. Killed in Action (KIA).
New Haven, Connecticut

Buried

Tablets of the Missing Cambridge American Cemetery

Revisions

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

https://www.fold3.com/image/310953053
https://www.fold3.com/image/606132828
https://www.fold3.com/record/83357688/william-r-dwyer-wwii-army-enlistm…
https://www.fold3.com/record/529900464/william-r-dwyer-american-battle-…
https://catalog.archives.gov/id/138789712
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56289394/william-r-dwyer

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

https://www.abmc.gov/node/539705#.V8D11Wcm4qQ

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

"Attlebridge Arsenal" - Brassfield & Wassom

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

466th BG Historian

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

https://www.fold3.com/image/28618328/?terms=41-28664

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

466th BG Historian

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

466th BG Historian

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 4802

William Rigebert Dwyer: Gallery (2 items)

Object number: UPL 13413 - Page 2 of 466th Bomb Group 'Roll of Honor' at All...

Object number: UPL 7452 - LT William R. Dwyer Pilotage Navigator Crew #519 -...