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Submit- Full
name
FORSYTHE, William Kennedy - Date of
birth
20 October 1917 -
Age
26 - Place of
birth
Conshohocken, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania -
Hometown
Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
13126702 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Waist Gunner -
Unit
359th Bombardment Squadron,
303rd Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
30 May 1944 - Place of
death
Rennau, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| C | 9 | 47 |
Immediate family
-
Members
William R. Forsythe (father)
Emma M. (Ord) Forsythe (mother)
Olive A. Forsythe (stepmother)
Lunetta B. Forsythe (halfsister)
Elizabeth M. Forsythe (halfsister)
Olive J. Forsythe (halfsister)
Martha Forsythe (halfsister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-31213 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Pistol Packin' Mama
Destination: Halberstadt, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Junkers aviation industry
MACR: 5341
More information
William Forsythe attended college and was a commercial artist.He volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on 20 October 1942.
The airplane dropped behind after crossing the Dutch border into Germany. The #2 engine was smoking slightly at bombs away and was feathered when smoking became violent. On the second bomb run the pilot, Lt Van Weelden, was unable to make the turn and dropped behind the formation. His lagging B-17 was spotted by a ME-109 who inflicted additional damage.
Five crew members bailed out and were taken prisoner. Four men were killed in the crash. Their remains were found near the crashed airplane. Lt Van Weelden believed long time that they were murdered by the Germans because he had flown the airplane a long distance after he believed the entire crew had bailed out.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.fold3.com - MACR, Pennsylvania, U.S., Veteran Compensation Application Files, 1940 US Census
Photo source: www.findagrave.com, www.303rdbg.com/359vanweelden.html, wwwfindagrave.com - Dale Drake