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name
SCHMILL, Bill Lew - Date of
birth
19 July 1923 -
Age
20 - Place of
birth
Fort Robison, Nebraska -
Hometown
Dawes County, Nebraska
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
17055962 -
Rank
Sergeant -
Function
Nose Gunner -
Unit
853rd Bombardment Squadron,
491st Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Missing in Action - Date of
death
5 June 1944 - Place of
death
Boulogne, France
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes - Walls of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
Louis F. Schmill (father)
Dora A. (Wright) Schmill (mother)
Mary A. Schmill (sister)
Charles M. Wright (grandfather)
Annie Wright (grandmother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
44-40243 -
Data
Type: B-24J
Nickname: Tenderfoot
Mission: Operational
MACR: 5633
More information
Sgt Bill (William) L. Schill enlisted with the Air Corps at Fort Francis E. Warren Cheyenne in Wyoming on 4 December 1942. He resided with his grandparents, Charles W. and Annie Wright in Crawford.Statement from Warren H .Rudolph
On aircraft M 44-40243 5 June 1944
I was flying with Lt Sharp on Aircraft F 44-40226 as left waist gunner. M 44-40243 was hit by flak just after we passed the target. The plane appeared to blow up just before it hit land or water. I was at the left waist window and the plane was practically at a right angle when it exploded. The number 1 engine was feathered and gas was streaming out between number 1 and number 2 engines.
Two men seemed to have come out of the plane, but I saw one chute open.
Source of information: FOHF, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, http://aad.archives.gov, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / 1940 Census
Photo source: honorstates.org