William Thomas Lynch

Military ROLL OF HONOUR

Assigned to 342BS, 97BG, 8AF USAAF. On 12-Aug-42, a fire in a/c B-17 41-9115 forced crew to bail out during a training flight. 

Shot down 21-Oct-42 in B-17 41-24441 'Francis X' while serving as Engineer/Top Turret Gunner. Killed in Action(KIA).

 

Awards: AM (2OLC), PH.

Connections

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

Units served with

Ground personnel of the 97th Bomb Group reservice a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-9023) nicknamed "Yankee Doodle", following the raid on Rouen. Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 18 Aug 1942.' [stamp], 'Air=SER (Boeing).' [written annotation] and '216112.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'U.S FLYING FORTRESSES RAID ROUEN IN DAYLIGHT. Associated Press Photo Shows: No sooner had one of the huge Fortresses landed after the raid than ground crew im
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

Lieutenant Harry R. Erickson, from Mankato, Minnesota, a bombardier of the 97th Bomb Group inside the nose of a B-17 Flying Fortress. A censor has obscured the ammunition to the bottom left of Erickson. Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press.' [stamp], 'Ministry of Information 25 Jul 1942.' [stamp], 'Air(Boeing).' [written annotation] and '212091.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'AMERICAN FLYING FORTRESSES WAIT FOR ZERO HOUR. Associated Press Photo Shows: Lt. Harry Erickson from Mankato, Mi
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 97th Bomb Group 342nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 17017977 / O-440334
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier
Joe Gray Jr
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 97th Bomb Group 342nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 14012196 / O-419578
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 97th Bomb Group 342nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 39165066
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner
Kenneth Laud
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 97th Bomb Group 342nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 20744087
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 97th Bomb Group 342nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 12043729
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Francis X
  • Unit: 97th Bomb Group 342nd Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Laurens County, South Carolina 19 June 1920 BornLaurens County, South Carolina

Enlisted

Fort Jackson Columbia South Carolina 9 February 1942 EnlistedFort Jackson Columbia South Carolina

Died

Killed in Action (KIA)

Lorient, France 21 October 1942 Aircraft lost near Lorient, France. Circumstances unknown. His remains have never been recovered.

Buried

Tablets of the Missing

Brittany American Cemetery, Saint Martin, France 1 January 1946 Commemorated on the Wall of the Missing, Brittany American Cemetery.

Revisions

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

Conections with other crew members

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 17-Nov-2014. Adde KIA & Commemoration events.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 27-Oct-2014. American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC).

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Roll of Honor, Losses of the 8th and 9th AF by Bishop and Hey pp. 26, 38