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name
CRESSMAN, William - Date of
birth
17 December 1919 -
Age
25 - Place of
birth
Eastern Salisbury, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania -
Hometown
Manhattan, New York County, New York
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
42131258 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Right Waist Gunner -
Unit
566th Bombardment Squadron,
389th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
4 April 1945 - Place of
death
Segeberg, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| B | 32 | 17 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Lewis Cressman (father)
Gisella E. (Bartolovitsch) Cressman (mother)
Louis J. Cressman (brother)
Katie E. Cressman (sister)
Matilda M. Cressman (sister)
Mary S. Cressman (sister)
Helen Cressman (sister)
Doris Cressman (wife)
Pearl Cressman (daughter)
William Cressman Jr. (son)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-50653 -
Data
Type: B-24J
Nickname: E-Rat-I-Cator
Destination: Parchim, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the airfield
MACR: 13726
More information
S/Sgt William Cressman enlisted at Camp Upton, Yaphank, New York on 8 May 1944.The aircraft was attacked by two German jet propelled fighters and hit in the n° 3 engine and turned to the left, started diving toward the clouds. Gas appeared to be pouring out of his wing tanks. The pilot apparently tried to pull the plane out of the dive at one time, but as he did parts of the tail started to come off, so he never did level off before going into the clouds.
Six crew members were killed, who were found in the wreckage of the plane by Polish workers. Three were taken prisoner.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Peter Schouteten, www.ancestry.com - Old Fortney Family Tree / World War II Army Enlistment Record / 1920 - 1930 Census, www.389thbg.net, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.fold3.com - MACR
Photo source: www.findagrave.com, Jim Fortney