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Personal info

Full name
WILLIAMS, William Dawson "Bill"
Date of birth
3 October 1918
Age
25
Place of birth
Barnesville, Lamar County, Georgia
Hometown
Lewisburg, Marshall County, Tennessee

Military service

Service number
O-405917
Rank
First Lieutenant
Function
Bombardier
Unit
550th Bombardment Squadron,
385th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters

Death

Status
Finding of Death
Date of death
24 February 1944
Place of death
Baltic Sea, near Rostock, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Walls of the Missing

Immediate family

Members
William D. Williams (father)
Ethel Williams (mother)
Sarah E. Williams (wife)

Plane data

Serial number
42-31349
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Stars & Stripes 2nd Edition
Destination: Rostock, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Heinkel aviation industry
MACR: 2777

More information

Lt William D. Williams attended Gordon Military College

He was killed on his 25th mission.

The primary target of the 304 bombers was the oil refineries of Poznan, Poland, but due to cloud cover 263 bombers diverted to the secondary target of Rostock.

The plane was last sighted in the vicinity northwest of Rostock, Germany over Mecklenburg Bay. It had earlier sustained rocket attacks from two JU 88s which caused the loss of one engine and consequent lagging in the formation. It dropped about 1,000 feet below the formation and was jumped by three enemy aircraft which set the number 3 engine on fire. The plane was last seen, under control, gliding toward cloud cover with a JU 88 and ME 110 following it.

Seven parachutes were sighted. The entire crew of 10 was killed.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, André Koch, Terry Hirsch, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov - WWII Enlistment Record, www.fold3.com - MACR 2777, http://www.flensted.eu.com/1944026.shtml, www.ancestry.com - 1930 Census

Photo source: André Koch, The Atlanta Constitution - 02 April 1944