William Spencer Grier
Military ROLL OF HONOUR
Personal records
Object Number - UPL 38263 - Gossage crew
William Grier was Co-Pilot on board B-17 #42-30259 'Damifino II' on a 24 September 1943 practice flight to test PFF equipment and technique. Intercepted by enemy fighters and shot down. Ditched North Sea. William was among the 5 men killed, 5 were rescued alive by Royal Navy torpedo boats and returned to duty. MACR 778.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 100th Bomb Group 349th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 17051757
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 349th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 12046800 at enlistment, then O-673491
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 349th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 36264332
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 349th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 31002387 at enlistment, then O-676883
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 349th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 32391944
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Damifino ii
- Unit: 100th Bomb Group 349th Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 24 September 1943
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Oregon, USA | 28 February 1923 | son of William M. and Auda F. Grier |
|
Enlisted |
11 April 1942 | as a Private in the Air Corps, in Portland, Oregon | |
|
Other his dead body was picked up |
24 September 1943 | by a Royal Navy Motor Torpedo Boat after the ditching of B-17 #42-30259 in the North Sea | |
| Knappton, Washington, USA | |||
|
Buried |
William Grier rests at Plot E, Row 4, Grave 70 |
Revisions
Added a "#" to the A/C serial # in the "Summary biography" for clarity.
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 778 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database