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Personal info

Full name
SCHETTLER, William James
Date of birth
23 September 1909
Age
33
Place of birth
Pennsylvania
Hometown
Coos County, Oregon

Military service

Service number
39092894
Rank
Technical Sergeant
Function
Engineer / Gunner
Unit
67th Bombardment Squadron,
44th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Distinguished Flying Cross,
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
1 August 1943
Place of death
Visinia, Romania

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
A 12 3

Immediate family

Members
Phillipp Schettler (father)
Anna May (Miller) Schettler (mother)
Annadat Schettler (sister)
George Schettler (brother)
Lillian Schettler (sister)
Bertrant Schettler (brother)
Lorna Y. (Adam) Schettler (wife)
Wiliam J. Schettler Jr. (son)

Plane data

Serial number
42-63761
Data
Type: B-24D
Nickname: Li'l Abner
Destination: Ploesti, Romania
Mission: Bombing Oil Refinery
MACR: 2413

More information

T/Sgt William J. Schettler enlisted on 12 March 1942 at the Presidio of Monterey in California.

A/C shot down by ground fire and crash-landed at Visina, 6 miles south of Gaesti, Romania. Flak over the target hit the nose section, wings and 2 engines, causing loss of power. Aircraft caught fire on landing and T/Sgt Schettler was killed when his top turret was dislodged.

He had shot down an additional ME-110, piloted by Uoffz. E. Kummel.

T/Sgt. Schettler was initially buried in Hero Cemetery in Visinia, Dambovita.

Source of information: Terry Hirsch, www.abmc.gov, www.ancestry.com - 1920/1930/1940 Census / Headstone and Interment Record / Family Trees, www.fold3.com - MACR

Photo source: Peter Schouteten, http://www.8thairforce.com/44thbg/, www.findagrave.com - Alex K