Missing information?
Do you have any additional information you would like to share about a soldier?
Submit- Full
name
MEYER, William Lawrence - Date of
birth
31 January 1924 -
Age
20 - Place of
birth
Wilton, Fairfield County, Connecticut -
Hometown
Wilton, Fairfield County, Connecticut
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
31278065 -
Rank
Sergeant -
Function
Ball Turret Gunner -
Unit
339th Bombardment Squadron,
96th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
22 March 1944 - Place of
death
Falkenhoehe, two miles northeast of Falkensee, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| A | 18 | 9 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Fritz C. Meyer (father)
Bridgett Meyer (mother)
Frederick Meyer (brother)
Mary E. Meyer (sister)
Augusta T. Meyer (sister)
Kathleen Meyer (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-6099 -
Data
Type: B-17F
Destination: Oranienburg, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Heinkel Aviation Industry
MACR: 3420
More information
Sgt William L. Meyer was a carpenter before he enlisted in Hartford, Connecticut on 4 January 1943.The primary target was the Heinkel Aviation Industry at Oranienburg. Due to cloud cover, the secondary target, the city of Berlin, was attacked.
The aircraft was hit on the tail assembly by three bombs from an airplane of the high squadron. It was seen to go down out of control. Six parachutes were seen to open.
None of the crew members survived the crash.
Source of information: Terry Hirsch, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov - WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - U.S. Headstone and Interment Records for U.S. Military Cemeteries on Foreign Soil / 1930 Census, www.fold3.com - MACR, WWII Draft Card
Photo source: Peter Schouteten