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name
BUCHANAN, William Byron - Date of
birth
10 april 1923 -
Age
20 - Place of
birth
Sparkman, Dallas County, Arkansas -
Hometown
Longview, Gregg and Harrison County, Texas
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
38473713 -
Rank
Private First Class -
Function
Right Waist Gunner -
Unit
20th Bombardment Squadron,
2nd Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
25 February 1944 - Place of
death
Moosdorf, Austria
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| C | 34 | 17 |
Immediate family
-
Members
S.E. Buchanan (father)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-31416 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Regensburg, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the aviation industry
MACR:2576
More information
Pfc William B. Buchanan graduated from Longview High School in 1940.Statement of 2nd Lt Maurice D. Surratt:
"Plane no 42-31416 was directly in front of our aircraft and I saw three ME-109's come in on no 416 from 12 o`clock high in about two second intervals. They were shooting with everything they had and closed in to 50 yards. I could see the tracers from E/A going right into the cockpit. The B-17 nosed straight down."
The killed crew members were initially buried at the cemetery of Moosdorf.
The pictures were taken in highschool in 1938, 1939 and 1940.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Peter Schouteten, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com - WWII Registration Card, www.ancestry.com - Family Tree
Photo source: Jac Engels, www.ancestry.com - Longview High School 1938, 1939, 1940