Missing information?

Do you have any additional information you would like to share about a soldier?

Submit

Personal info

Full name
POPULORUM, William C "Bill"
Date of birth
1925
Age
unknown
Place of birth
Illinois
Hometown
Michigan City, La Porte County, Indiana

Military service

Service number
15345117
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
Tail Gunner
Unit
337th Bombardment Squadron,
96th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Finding of Death
Date of death
30 November 1944
Place of death
near Elfgin, 25 miles east of Aachen, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Plot Row Grave
G 3 27

Immediate family

Members
Franklin J. Populorum (father)
Hilda (Meers) Populorum (mother)

Plane data

Serial number
43-38133
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: The Reluctant Dragon
Destination: Merseburg, Germany
Mission: Bombing oil refineries
MACR: 10833

More information

S/Sgt William C. Populorum attended North Side High School at Fort Wayne, Indiana and was a student at the Elston High school in Michigan City, Indiana in 1943 where he was a member of the Track Team. The Populorum family were former DeKalb residents and moved to Michigan City around 1941.

He enlisted in Baer Field, Ft Wayne, Indiana on 6 September 1943 and had been overseas three months. Serving as a gunner in the air corps he was awarded the air medal following completion of five missions.

His last conversation was when he reported that he was watching an unidentified plane that was approaching in the distance.

It is believed he was unable to get out of his position and open the escape door in time.

Source of information: André Koch, Astrid van Erp, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov - WWII Enlistment Record, www.fold3.com - MACR, http://usaaf-noseart.co.uk, www.ancestry.com - 1940 Census, www.newspapers.com - The Daily Chronicle, www.americanairmuseum.com

Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Laura Phillips, www.ancestry.com - Elston High School Yearbook 1943, www.newspapers.com - The Star Press