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Submit- Full
name
BRYAN, William Mills "Bill" - Date of
birth
11 November 1917 -
Age
27 - Place of
birth
Ohio -
Hometown
Toledo, Lucas County, Ohio
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-828943 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Co-Pilot -
Unit
603rd Bombardment Squadron,
398th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
21 November 1944 - Place of
death
On the highway from Eisenach to Gotha
Trügleben, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| P | 15 | 14 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Jesse A. Bryan (father)
Florence L. (Goetz) Bryan (mother)
Lucy J. (Speirs) Bryan (wife)
Plane data
- Serial
number
43-38147 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Fuddy Duddy
Destination: Merseburg, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Leuna oil refinery
MACR: 11210
More information
2nd Lt William M. Bryan graduated from DeVilbiss High School and attended college for 4 years and worked as a retail manager. He joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve at Patterson Field, Fairfield, Ohio on 7 December 1942.After bombs away the aircraft was attacked by enemy fighters and was hit in the left wing around number two engine. The plane blew up after five parachutes were seen.
According tot statements of surviving crew members Lt Bryan was trapped in the plane and wasn't able to bail out.
Three crew members survived and were taken prisoner, seven were killed. They were initialy buried at the cemetery of Trügleben on 23 November 1944.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Peter Schouteten, William Bryan Menard Sr., Astrid van Erp, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.ancestry.com - Family Tree
Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Laura Phillips, William Bryan Menard Sr.