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name
REDMOND, William James - Date of
birth
25 July 1915 -
Age
28 -
Place of birth
The Bronx, Bronx County, New York City, New York -
Hometown
Bergen County, New Jersey
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
32465910 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Tail Gunner -
Unit
329th Bombardment Squadron,
93rd Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
13 November 1943 - Place of
death
Near Husum, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| C | 6 | 56 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Robert J. Redmond (father)
Anna Redmond (mother)
Florence Redmond (sister)
Charles Redmond (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-40765 -
Data
Type: B-24D
Nickname: Valient Virgin
Destination: Bremen, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the port area
MACR: 2184
More information
S/Sgt William J. Redmond attended college and was an insurance salesman.He enlisted in Newark, New Jersey on 1 September 1942.
The airplane collided with B-24 #41-24226, which smashed its bomb bays and caused the tail section to break off, and they both crashed near Husum, Germany. Three crew members were taken prisoner, and seven were killed.
Statement from 2nd Alfred T. Van Dame:
"On this mission to Bremen, we were flying spare. As we neared the German coast, we were in the low squadron. Suddenly, there was a terrific impact; another B-24 had collided with us and smashed our bomb bays. This, I imagine, trapped the pilot, co-pilot, engineer, and radio operator. The right waist gunner was knocked unconscious by the impact. This was told to me by S/Sgt Gillespie, who was waist gunner. The tail section broke off immediately after. The aircraft crashed south of Husum, Germany. How many of my crew members were actually in the aircraft when it hit the ground is unknown to me. The only members of my crew that I know to be alive are Lt E.L. Wodey and S/Sgt Gillespie."
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.ancestry.com - 1930 Census / WWII Draft Card / New York Birth Index
Photo source: Peter Schouteten