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William D Roach

Military

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Assigned to 326BS, 92BG, 8AF USAAF. Reg Hammond crew. Wounded in action on 28-Mar-45 in B-17 43-38574 'Russian Lullaby', but continued with his crew to the target and completed the bomb run despite his head wound. ETD

Awards: AM, PH, WWII Victory, EAME.

Service

People

  • Reginald Hammond

    Military | First Lieutenant | Pilot | 92nd Bomb Group Fame's Favoured Few
    Assigned to 326BS, 92BG, 8AF USAAF. 35 x missions. Hit trees on Sidown Hill in B-17 44-8436 and crashed. 5-May-45. Killed in Action (KIA) Awards: DFC, AM(OLC), PH.

  • Daniel Minkon

    Military | Staff Sergeant | Gunner | 92nd Bomb Group Fame's Favoured Few
    Assigned to 326BS, 92BG, 8AF USAAF. 33 x missions. Hit trees on Sidown Hill in B-17 44-8436 and crashed. 5-May-45. Killed in Action (KIA) Awards: PH.

  • Leonard Nitti

    Military | Technical Sergeant | Radio Operator | 92nd Bomb Group Fame's Favoured Few
    Assigned to 326BS, 92BG, 8AF USAAF. 30 x missions. Hit trees on Sidown Hill in B-17 44-8436 and crashed. Sole survivor from crash. 5-May-45. Returned to Duty (RTD) Awards: AM, PH, WWII Victory, EAME.

  • Robert Sprout

    Military | First Lieutenant | Co-Pilot | 92nd Bomb Group Fame's Favoured Few
    Assigned to 326BS, 92BG, 8AF USAAF. 33 x missions. Hit trees on Sidown Hill in B-17 44-8436 and crashed. 5-May-45. Killed in Action (KIA) Awards: AM (3OLC), PH.

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Units served with

  • 92nd Bomb Group Fame's Favoured Few

    92nd Bomb Group Fame's Favoured Few

    Group
    The 92nd Group sometime after arrivial in the UK converted to the role of in-theater combat crew indocrination and training. For this role, the Group traded its B-17F complement and obtained the B-17E, mostly from the 97th BG which was departing for...

  • 326th Bomb Squadron

    326th Bomb Squadron

    Squadron

Aircraft

  • 43-38574 RUSSIAN LULLABY

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Cheyenne 18/8/44; Hunter 27/8/44; Grenier 8/9/44; Assigned 407BS/92BG [PY-P] Podington 24/9/44; transferred 326/92BG; [JW-P] damaged in taxi accident with Robert O Divver 7/6/45; Salvaged 9AF Germany 31/5/46. RUSSIAN LULLABY.

Missions

Associated Place

  • Podington

    Military site : airfield
    Built originally to accommodate two RAF bomber squadrons, the first USAAF unit to occupy the base was the 15th Bomb Squadron in September 1942. Podington was then used as a satellite for nearby Chelveston. Work to lengthen the runways, although this...

Events

Event Location Date
Born Multnomah County, OR 1910
Enlisted Portland, OR 25 August 1942

Portland, Oregon
Based Podington 1944 – 1945

Assigned to 326BS, 92BG, 8AF USAAF.
Nationality
American
Nickname
'Bill'
Service numbers
19123127 / T-?
Highest rank
Flight Officer
Role/job
Bombardier/ Navigator
Awards
  • Air Medal
  • European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
  • Purple Heart
  • World War II Victory Medal

Revisions

Date Contributor Update
06 February 2020 18:11:36 Al_Skiff Changes to nickname, service number, biography, awards, events, unit associations and place associations
Sources

https://www.fold3.com/record/85011355-william-d-roach
Date Contributor Update
24 May 2019 13:48:56 Emily Created entry with surname, middlename, firstname, nickname, nationality, service number, highest rank, role, biography, person associations, unit associations, aircraft associations, mission associations and media associations
Sources

Enlistment record

Images of Roach with other known members of the 92nd Bomb group https://www.americanairmuseum.com/media/38560

"Crew of the Week" narrative https://www.americanairmuseum.com/media/38564

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