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Personal info

Full name
HUNTER, William Fraser
Date of birth
27 March 1916
Age
28
Place of birth
Essex, Chittenden County, Vermont
Hometown
Los Angeles County, California

Military service

Service number
O-792598
Rank
First Lieutenant
Function
Pilot
Unit
564th Bombardment Squadron,
389th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Distinguished Flying Cross,
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
9 March 1945
Place of death
Greven, north of Münster, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Plot Row Grave
N 2 11

Immediate family

Members
Matthew W. Hunter (father)
Jennie S. (Fraser) Hunter (mother)

Plane data

Serial number
44-49382
Data
Type: B-24L
Destination: Münster, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the marshalling yards
MACR: 12959

More information

1st Lt William F. Hunter graduated from Stanford and was employed as an investment analyst at E.F. Hutton in Los Angeles, California.

He joined the Air Corps of the Regular Army at Fort McArthur, San Pedro, California on 16 Ocotber 1941. He was sent to England in July, 1943.

Aircraft 44-49382 was leading the low left squadron. It suffered a direct flak hit when it was about 30 seconds over the target. An eyewitness report stated the aircraft banked, made two turns, and then nosed over. The wings blew off and the ship burst into flames. The tail gunner and mickey operator survived and were taken prisoner. The other crew members were killed.

The remains of Lt Hunter arrived at Margraten on 16 May 1945, where he was initially buried in a temporary grave the same day. He was disinterred on 8 July 1948 and was given his final resting place on 3 March 1949.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Peter Schouteten, Terry Hirsch, www.389thbg.net, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.findagrave.com, 1930 Census, IDPF

Photo source: Peter Schouteten, www.americanairmuseum.com

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