William Wilbur Fahrenhold
MilitaryIWM, Roger Freeman Collection
William Fahrenhold was Engineer/Top Turret gunner on B-17 42-29649 on 1-May-43. The assigned target were the U-boat yards at St. Nazaire, France and a navigational error on return took the 306th Bomb Group over heavily defended Brest.
The Fortress was attacked by fighters and caught on fire. The pilot landed at Cornwall, the BTG Maynard 'Snuffy' Smith was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions on this day. 3 parachuted out of the burning plane and were lost. The radio room and tail section were on fire.
Awards: SS, DFC, WWII Victory, EAME.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 423rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 19068071
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 423rd Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 423rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 36523097
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 423rd Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 1 May 1943
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Bedford
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
McKees Rocks, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States | 14 April 1921 | Son of Margaret Fahrenhold. |
Enlisted |
Pittsburgh, PA | 9 July 1942 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
Other Discharged USAAF |
2 October 1945 | Honourable discharge. | |
Died |
1 February 1980 | ||
McKees Rocks, PA | McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania |
Revisions
Added a "#" to the A/C serial # in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity & consistency.
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Losses of the 8th and 9th Air Forces Vol. 1 by Bishop and Hey pp. 113-4, First Over Germany by Russell Strong pp. 105-8. / www.381st.org/UnitHistory/Data/Roster.aspx