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name
WOLVEN, William David - Date of
birth
13 November 1923 -
Age
19 - Place of
birth
Newburgh, Orange County, New York -
Hometown
Newburgh, Orange County, New York
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
12129628 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Ball Turret Gunner -
Unit
547th Bombardment Squadron,
384th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
12 August 1943 - Place of
death
Haus Oelgarten, near Hennef/Bonn, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| B | 35 | 13 |
Immediate family
-
Members
William C. Wolven (father)
Helen (Roach) Wolven (mother)
Catherine M. Wolven (sister)
John B. Wolven (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-30104 -
Data
Type B-17F
Destination: Bochum, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the synthetic oil installation
MACR: 286
More information
S/Sgt William D. Wolven was an usher.He volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States in New York City, New York on 3 September 1942.
His plane was attacked by enemy aircraft and crashed in Haus Oelgarten, near Hennef, 7 miles east of Bonn.
He was interred on 12 August 1943 at Geistingen Cemetery.
His brother John Bryant Wolven served with the 35th Bomber Squadron, 25th Bomber Group, Medium, and was reported missing in action on 14 December 1942 in the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of Trinidad. He is memorialized at the East Coast Memorial in New York.
The week before the fatal crash, this crew was hit on a bombing run with two of four engines shot out, fuel leaking from their fuel tank, and jammed tail and side guns. They limped across the channel, unsure if they were going to crash into the English cliffs or make it over the top. They did make it over the cliffs and managed a safe landing. Their plane was scrapped, and they were given a replacement bomber.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Jo Anne Hawthorne (daughter in law), www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov - WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - 1930/1940 Census / Family Tree, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.8thafhs.com
Photo source: Jac Engels, www.findagrave.com - TxOma, Jo Anne Hawthorne