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Personal info

Full name
BROWN, William
Date of birth
1 April 1920
Age
24
Place of birth
Irvine, Ayrshire, Scotland
Hometown
Drayton Plains, Oakland County, Michigan

Military service

Service number
36557834
Rank
Sergeant
Function
Ball Turret Gunner
Unit
711th Bombardment Squadron,
447th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
2 November 1944
Place of death
1 mile south of Gross Mimmelage near Quakenbruck, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
A 32 50

Immediate family

Members
Gordon Brown (father)
Annie Brown (mother)
Gordon Brown (brother)
Susanne M. Brown (wife)

Plane data

Serial number
44-6571
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Merseburg, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Leuna oil refinery
MACR: 10312

More information

Sgt William Brown immigrated from Scotland in 1914. He was employed at the Burke Lumber Company as a truck driver.

The aircraft was struck by aircraft 44-6511 coming from the high section in the same squadron, just having lost an engine. It collided with 44-6571 and cut it in two at midship when #1 and #2 engines caught it aft of the radio room. It went down immediately.

Eight crew members were killed, one survived and was taken prisoner.

Sgt Brown was initially buried at the cemetery of Quakenbrück, Germany, on 4 November 1944. When his remains were discovered in September 1948, Sgt Brown was initially designated as Unknown X-7845. After arrival at Ardennes, the remains were identified.

After the cemetery was given a permanent status, he was given his final resting place on 7 April 1950.

Airplane 44-6511 was able to crash-land at the Advanced Landing Ground A-93 in Bierset-Liège, Belgium, with no casualties.

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.wiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com, IDPF, WWII Draft Card, 1940 US Census

Photo source: Peter Schouteten