William Wilbur Fahrenhold

Military
Gunners of the 306th Bomb Group sit atop ammunition for a B-17 Flying Fortress. Image stamped on reverse: 'Sport and General.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 9 Jul 1943.' [stamp] and '273718.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: ''THE DEFENSIVE POWER OF FLYING FORTRESSES. The extremely heavy defense of the Flying Fortresses has enabled them to fight their way through to targets like Huls and Kiel in the face of the most intensive fighter opposition aerial warfare has ever seen. The result of these media-379033.jpg FRE 1167 Gunners of the 306th Bomb Group sit atop ammunition for a B-17 Flying Fortress. Image stamped on reverse: 'Sport and General.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 9 Jul 1943.' [stamp] and '273718.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: ''THE DEFENSIVE POWER OF FLYING FORTRESSES. The extremely heavy defense of the Flying Fortresses has enabled them to fight their way through to targets like Huls and Kiel in the face of the most intensive fighter opposition aerial warfare has ever seen. The result of these and other encounters has been the destruction of more than 1100 enemy aircraft. Formations of Flying Fortresses have an average of 12 1/2 .50 calibre machine guns per plane (which can be manned simultaneously by the usual crew of ten.) 27051. Astride the ammunition for the ship. Engineer Tec. Sergt. William W. Fahrenhold,McKees Rocks, Penn. Staff Sergt Louis A Skinner & Tec. Sergt Robert L. Myllykoski. S.&G. G.C.' Roger Freeman Collection

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection

Object Number - FRE 1167 - Gunners of the 306th Bomb Group sit atop ammunition for a B-17 Flying Fortress. Image stamped on reverse: 'Sport and General.' [stamp], 'Passed for...

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

Official insignia of the 306th Bomb Group, approved 6 January 1943, and updated 2 October 1951.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
The insignia of the 381st Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • 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
Staff Sergeant Maynard Smith of the 306th Bomb Group, salutes after being awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, in front of a B-17 Flying Fortress. Passed for publication 15 Jul 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'U.S. Secretary Of War Presents America's Highest Award To S/Sergeant At American Airfield In Britain. Mr Henry L. Stimson, the United States Secretary of War, who is on a visit to Britain, visited an American Bomber station in Britain to present the Congressional Medal of Honour, America's hi
  • 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

Places

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

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

NARA WWII Enlistment records
WWII Draft Card

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added a "#" to the A/C serial # in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity & consistency.

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
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Key Image ID.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

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

William Wilbur Fahrenhold: Gallery (2 items)