William Thomas Auston
MilitaryOn 3-Jan-43 in B-24D 41-23771 while serving as Navigator the aircraft made a crash-landing near Puncheston, Pembrokeshire when it ran out of fuel upon return from a mission to St. Nazaire, France. He was injured but Returned to Duty (RTD)
On 17-May-43 in B24-D 42-40130 "Avenger II" while serving as Navigator the aircraft developed engine trouble on a mission to Bordeaux, France. The pilot made the decision to fly the aircraft to Lugo-de-Llanera airfield at Asturias, Spain and the entire crew was interned. They were taken to Gibraltar and returned to England on 8-Aug-43.
Awards: AM (OLC), PH, WWII Victory, EAME.
Post war: Served in Korean conflict.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Aircraft
Missions
- Date: 17 May 1943
- Date: 3 January 1943
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Pathway
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Tiptonville, Lake, TN | 12 September 1915 | Son of Grover Cleveland and Berah [Highfill] Auston. |
Other Returned to Duty (RTD) |
Puncheston, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire SA62, UK | 3 January 1943 | On 3-Jan-43 in B-24D 41-23771 the aircraft made a crash-landing near Puncheston, Pembrokeshire when it ran out of fuel upon return from a mission to St. Nazaire, France. He was uninjured and Returned to Duty. |
Other Interned |
Asturias, Spain | 17 May 1943 - 8 August 1943 | On 17-May-43 in B-24D 42-40130 "Avenger II" the aircraft developed engine trouble and made a forced landing at Lugo-de-Llanera airfield at Asturias, Spain. He was interned but was taken to Gibraltar and Returned to England on 8-Aug-43. |
Enlisted |
11 July 1949 | ||
Other Discharged USAF |
15 July 1965 | Honourable discharge. | |
Died |
Caribou, ME | 5 May 1989 | |
Buried |
East Side Cemetery Martin, Weakley County, TN | 8 May 1989 | East Side Cemetery Martin, Weakley County, Tennessee |
Based |
Assigned to 66BS, 44BG, 8AF USAAF. | ||
Enlisted |
|||
Other Discharged USAAF |
Honourable discharge. |
Revisions
https://www.fold3.com/image/684338721
https://www.fold3.com/record/50053819/william-t-auston-social-security-…
https://www.fold3.com/record/84958631/william-t-auston-wwii-army-enlist…
https://www.fold3.com/record/628591597/william-auston-1915-veterans-aff…
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/105770072/william-t-auston
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 Air Forces Vol. 1 by Bishop and Hey p. 61, MACR 3301, 44th BG Roll of Honor and Casualties by Lundy p. 38, The 44th BG in WWII by MacKay and Adams p.27
Lee Cunningham 1-Feb-43. New entry, all information correlated from data in "Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces" Stan Bishop & John A Hey MBE. No MACRs were issued for either event.