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name
EMERY, William Kingston - Date of
birth
11 December 1916 -
Age
28 -
Place of birth
Manchester, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire -
Hometown
San Francisco, San Francisco County, California -
Ethnicity
White
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
39095551 -
Rank
Corporal -
Function
unknown -
Unit
567th Bombardment Squadron,
389th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Death
-
Status
Died non-Battle - Date of
death
7 May 1945 - Place of
death
Engers Bridge
Koblenz, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| K | 4 | 3 |
Immediate family
-
Members
William A. Emery (father)
Ada C. (Young) Emery (mother)
Elsie G. Emery (sister)
Rachel Emery (sister)
Lucy E. (Crofoot) Emery (wife)
More information
Cpl William K. Emery attended college was an errand boy before he enlisted in San Francisico, California on 16 July 1942. He was an accomplished musician and had planned to audition for the San Francisco Symphony before enlistment. He played the viola.He was an airplane engine mechanic with the 567th Bomber Squadron
Trolley missions were flown in early May 1945. The purpose being to provide all crew and ground personnel the opportunity to see the results of their contribution in the strategic air war against Germany. Many precautions were taken on these missions, and the most responsible and experienced pilots were chosen to fly. There were no trolley missions flown in bad weather. Despite such precautions, accidents occurred, such as this.
The crew decided to circle the cathedral in Koblenz. Presumably the airplane unfortunately flew much too low and collided with supply lines, which were stretched over the river Rhine. Due to the low altitude an evasive maneuver of the airplane was not possible any more. The plane crashed into one of the bridge piers.
All nineteen men aboard were killed, and the remains of only six of them were recovered.
Cpl Emery was one of the 15 passengers on this flight with a B-24J with serialnumber 44-10620.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, Carla Mans, www.abmc.gov, www.389thbg.net, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.ancestry.com - U.S. Headstone and Interment Records / 1920/1940 Census / California Marriage Records / WWII Draft Card
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Paula Del Carlo (niece)