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name
RISER, William Caudie - Date of
birth
15 September 1925 -
Age
19 -
Place of birth
Calhoun County, South Carolina -
Hometown
Calhoun County, South Carolina -
Ethnicity
White -
Religion
Protestant
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
34847945 -
Rank
Sergeant -
Function
unknown -
Unit
567th Bombardment Squadron,
389th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Death
-
Status
Missing in Action - Date of
death
7 May 1945 - Place of
death
Engers Bridge
Koblenz, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten - Walls of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
Willie L. Riser (father)
Margaret Riser (sister)
Annette Riser (sister)
More information
Sgt William C. Riser enlisted at Fort Jackson, South Carolina on 20 November 1943.He was a gunner 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.
Sgt Riser was one of the 15 passengers on this flight with a B-24J with serialnumber 44-10620.
He is remembered at Pine Grove Lutheran Church Cemetery in Lone Star, Calhoun County, South Carolina.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Terry Hirsch, Raf Dyckmans, www.389thbg.net, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.findagrave.com, United States Census, 1940
Photo source: Woodie and Jackie West, www.findagrave.com