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Personal info

Full name
WANNEMACHER, William Frederick
Date of birth
8 October 1921
Age
21
Place of birth
Brooklyn, New York
Hometown
Hempstead, Nassau County, New York

Military service

Service number
32427503
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
Waist Gunner
Unit
323rd Bombardment Squadron,
91st Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
17 August 1943
Place of death
Balen, Belgium

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
D 6 29

Immediate family

Members
Herman A. Wannemacher (father)
Elizabeth (Caldwell) Wannemacher (mother)
Jean Wannemacher (sister)
Ellen I. (Toomey) Wannemacher (wife)
Doris A. Wannemacher (daughter)

Plane data

Serial number
42-5225
Data
Type: B-17F
Nickname: V-Packette aka Stormy Weather
Destination: Schweinfurt, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the KugelFisher ball bearing plants
MACR: 280

More information

S/Sgt William Wannemacher attended Lynbrook High School in Lynbrook, New York and attended college. He was a machinist apprentice at O.Z. Electrical Manufacturing Company.

He enlisted on 13 August 1942 at Fort Jay, Governors Island, New York.

The aircraft was shot down by Lt Artur Beese in a Fw-190A of JG 26/1. Two crew members were taken prisoner, eight were killed. They were initially buried at the cemetery for allied soldiers in Fort III in Deurne, Belgium on 20 August 1943.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov - WWII Army Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - 1940 Census / Family Tree, www.8thafhs.com, www.joebaugher.com, www.fold3.com - MACR, WWII Draft Card

Photo source: Jac Engels, www.ancestry.com - Lynbrook High School Yearbook 1939, Terry McKibbin (granddaughter), www.fold3.com