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name
WILMUT, William Henry - Date of
birth
1 June 1923 -
Age
21 - Place of
birth
Archer City, Archer County, Texas -
Hometown
Archer City, Archer County, Texas
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
18040847 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Tail Gunner -
Unit
511th Bombardment Squadron,
351st Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
12 September 1944 - Place of
death
Werneuchen, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| A | 41 | 3 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Roy Wilmut (father)
Willie Wilmut (mother)
Roy M. Wilmut (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
43-37850 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Umbriago
Destination: Ruhland, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the oil refinery
MACR: 8894
More information
S/Sgt William Wilmut joined the Air Corps of the Regular Army on 17 June 1941 in Dallas, Texas.The mission was to bomb the oil refinery of Ruhland, but a target of opportunity, the marshalling yard of Plauen, was bombed instead.
The airplane was attacked by German fighters. Flames streamed from the cockpit to the radio room. It rolled over on its back and then went into a spin and exploded in the air.
It was the crew's 5th mission.
Four crew members survived and were taken prisoner, five men were killed.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com - WWII Enlistment Record, MACR, www.ancestry.com - 1930 Census, www.8thafhs.com
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Storiesbehindthestars.org