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name
THORPE, William Reginald Jr - Date of
birth
29 August 1921 -
Age
22 - Place of
birth
Johnston, Providence County, Rhode Island -
Hometown
Graniteville, Providence County, Rhode Island
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-812009 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Navigator -
Unit
418th Bombardment Squadron,
100th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
6 March 1944 - Place of
death
Haselünne, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| A | 32 | 9 |
Immediate family
-
Members
William R. Thorpe (father)
Elsie (Coates) Thorpe (mother)
Margaret Thorpe (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-30278 -
Data
Type: B-17F
Nickname: Sly Fox
Destination: Berlin, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the industrial area
MACR: 3016
More information
2nd Lt William R. Thorpe Jr. graduated from Classical High School in 1938. He attended college for two years and was a salesman at Congdon And Carpenter Company.He joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve in Providence, Rhode Island on 5 August 1942.
Their aircraft was shot down by German fighters near Haselünne. The entire crew was killed. They were initially buried at the cemetery of Quakenbruck, Germany.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.8thafhs.com, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.ancestry.com - Pearson Family Tree
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Classical High School 1938, Providence Journal 1944