William Albert Beddard Jr

Military
media-38701.jpeg UPL 38701 "A crew of the 379th Bomb Group poses beside a Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" "Swamp Fire" at an 8th Air Force Base in England, 1 November 1944."

Rear L-R: Unkn, Unkn, 2Lt James E Whitney, 1Lt Carl A Shedlock, 1Lt Bruce Eugene Mills, T/Sgt Joseph T Cooper.

Middle L-R: S/Sgt James S Boston, T/Sgt Delmer E Menger, S/Sgt Lucas S Conner, Unkn, S/Sgt William A Beddard, M/Sgt Dominick De Salvo.

Front L-R: Unkn, Unkn, Unkn.

Object Number - UPL 38701 - "A crew of the 379th Bomb Group poses beside a Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" "Swamp Fire" at an 8th Air Force Base in England, 1 November...

Assigned to 524BS, 379BG, 8AF USAAF. ETD.



Awards:WWII Victory, EAME.

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 379th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Aircraft

A bomber crew of the 379th Bomb Group, and their mascot "Scragg", with their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-32024) nicknamed "Swamp Fire". Image via Byron Clark. A printed caption has been attached to the reverse: 'Swamp Fire First Crew. Kimbolton, May 1 1944 [handwritten annotation to this says: 'Photo Taken.']. Rear Row, L to R. Berj Bejian- Engineer & Top Turret, Roy Avery- Waist Gunner, Andrew Stroman- Ball Turret, John Rose- Waist Gunner, Elijah Lewis- Tail Gunner, Edward Pryzybyla- Radio Gun
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Swamp Fire
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 524th Bomb Squadron

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Pittsburgh, PA 23 October 1917 Son of William A and Mary Beddard Snr.

Enlisted

Pittsburgh, PA 21 August 1943 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Other

Discharged USAAF

7 August 1945 Honourable discharge.

Died

20 July 1979

Buried

Calvary Cemetery, Pittsburgh, PA 23 July 1979 Calvary Cemetery Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, PA
Hays, Allegheny County, PA Husband of Mary S [Roth] Beddard.

Based

Kimbolton Assigned to 524BS, 379BG, 8AF USAAF.

William Albert Beddard: Gallery (1 items)