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Submit- Full
name
BROLEY, William Henry - Date of
birth
13 October 1916 -
Age
26 - Place of
birth
Boston, Middlesex County, Massachusetts -
Hometown
Providence County, Rhode Island
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-791278 -
Rank
First Lieutenant -
Function
Pilot -
Unit
322nd Bombardment Squadron,
91st Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
14 May 1943 - Place of
death
North Sea, west of Amrum Island, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| A | 18 | 1 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Clarence H. Broley (father)
Mary Broley (mother)
Clarence H. Broley (brother)
Flora (Apice) Broley (wife)
Plane data
- Serial
number
41-24481 -
Data
Type: B-17F
Nickname: Hells Angels
Destination: Kiel, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the U-boat yards
MACR: 15498
More information
1st Lt William H. Broley attended college and was a salesman.He volunteered for the Air Corps of the U.S. Army in Providence, Rhode Island on 18 December 1941 as an aviation cadet.
The group was attacked by German fighters on the way to their target and there was light flak at the target. It was reported that the B-17 had one engine out and a large hole was in the rudder but no one survived to tell the whole story.
It had crossed the coast and was heading back to England when it either crashed into the channel or the crew ditched and no one survived. No one remained to tell the final story though eight bodies were recovered.
The entire crew of ten men was killed.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, WWIIMemorial.com, Footnote.com, www.fold3.com - MACR, WWII Draft Card
Photo source: FOHF, Providence Journal - 11 July 1943, Providence Journal - 30 September 1943