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Submit- Full
name
DUNN, William David - Date of
birth
25 december 1923 -
Age
20 - Place of
birth
Benton County, Oregon -
Hometown
Kings Valley, Benton County, Oregon
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
39333988 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Ball Turret Gunner -
Unit
422nd Bombardment Squadron,
305th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
16 August 1944 - Place of
death
Jena, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| D | 4 | 24 |
Immediate family
-
Members
James W. Dunn (father)
Mable D. (Bayless) Dunn (mother)
James W. Dunn (brother)
Lloyd W. Dunn (brother)
Mary E. Dunn (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
44-6304 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Bohlen, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the oil industry
MACR: 8436
More information
William D. Dunn worked as a lumberman.He enlisted in from Portland, Oregon on 16 June 1943.
According to a witness statement of the pilot, 1st Lt Darrell V. Betz, who was the only survivor, a burst of flak tore off the right wing at the number four engine and the airplane broke in half at the ball turret. The controls were completely shot away and it was impossible to control the aircraft. It went into a spin and only Lt Betz was able to bail out. The other eight crew members were killed.
They were initially buried at the cemetery of Vollradisroda on 18 August 1944.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.archives.gov, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com - Mr. John Bell, www.findagrave.com - CWGC/ABMC, www.ancestry.com - 1930/1940 Census / Various Family Trees, www.fold3.com, www.armyairforces.com, MACR 8436
Photo source: www.findagrave.com, www.newspapers.com - Corvallis Gazette Times - 18 October 1944