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name
SYSEL, William A - Date of
birth
12 November 1922 -
Age
21 - Place of
birth
New Rochelle, Westchester County, New York -
Hometown
Coxsackie, Greene County, New York
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-819211 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Co-Pilot -
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
Nordhausen, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| B | 31 | 25 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Anthony J. Sysel (father)
Signe M. (Blomberg) Sysel (mother)
Ellen M. Sysel (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-32213 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Pistol Packin' Mama
Destination: Halberstadt, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Junkers aviation industry
More information
William Sysel worked in a metal factory.He joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve in Newark, New Jersey on 18 September 1942.
His father was born in Austria, his mother in Sweden.
The airplane dropped from #2 to #6 formation position 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 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. It was about four miles behind and 2,000 feet below the formation when the bail out order was given.
The pilot, Lt Van Weelden, was advised after capture that the bodies of the four killed crewmen and been found on the ground near the crashed B-17. He believed that this was untrue since he had flown a long distance after the crew bailed out and that the four men had been shot and murdered by the Germans.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.303rdbg.com
Photo source: Michel Beckers