William J Van Meer
Military
485th BG - 828th BS
Standing L to R: Ralph F. Perillo (G), Thomas A. Langstaff (TG), Edward G. Johnson (BTG), Eugene A. Lascotte (NG), Donald R. Turner (FE), William J. Van Meer (RO)
Kneeling Left to Right: John D. Crouchley (P), Allen G. Meister (B), Forrest J. Leveille (N), William J. Hays (CP)
This crew was shot down on 28 June 1944. Crouchley was KIA. The rest of the crew (minus Meister) survived and were made POW. Meister had been made squadron bombardier days before and was not aboard when this crew was shot down.
Crew association.
Object Number - UPL 37257 - John D. Crouchley Crew 485th BG - 828th BS Standing L to R: Ralph F. Perillo (G), Thomas A. Langstaff (TG), Edward G. Johnson (BTG), Eugene A....
Assigned to 828BS, 485BG, 15AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) Bucharest, Romania in B-24 42-52701 28-Jun-44; Shot down by E/A, bailed out. Prisoner of War (POW). MACR 6820/8339
Awards: POW, WWII Victory, EAME.
Post war: Re-enlisted in USAF, serving in Korean conflict.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Fifteenth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Fifteenth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 485th Bomb Group 828th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 11063665 / O-802172
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: Miss Yankee Rebel
- Unit: 485th Bomb Group 828th Bomb Squadron
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Luray, Kansas | 1 June 1922 | |
|
Enlisted |
7 December 1942 | ||
|
Based |
Venosa | 10 May 1944 - 28 June 1944 | 485th BG Combat Tour. |
|
Other Baled out POW |
Plovdiv, Bulgaria | 28 June 1944 | Failed to Return (FTR) Bucharest, Romania in B-24 42-52701 28-Jun-44; Shot down by E/A, baled out POW MACR 6820/8339 |
|
Other Prisoner of War (POW) |
Shumen, Bulgaria | 28 June 1944 | Prisoner of War (POW). Shumen, Bulgaria. |
|
Other Discharged USAAF |
10 September 1945 | Honourable discharge. | |
|
Enlisted |
17 January 1951 | Re-enlisted | |
|
Other Discharged USAF |
31 October 1976 | Honourable discharge. | |
|
Died |
Conway, Arkansas | 12 August 2005 | |
| Camdenton, Missouri |
Revisions
Added a "#" to the A/C serial number in the "Summary biography" for clarity.
