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Personal info

Full name
LEWIS, William Francis
Date of birth
18 March 1918
Age
26
Place of birth
Lebanon, Boone County, Indiana
Hometown
Lebanon, Boone County, Indiana

Military service

Service number
O-743661
Rank
Second Lieutenant
Function
Bombardier
Unit
332nd Bombardment Squadron,
94th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters

Death

Status
Missing in Action
Date of death
4 November 1944
Place of death
unknown

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Walls of the Missing

Immediate family

Members
Arlie E. Lewis (father)
Grace (McIlwain) Lewis (mother)
Mary M. Lewis (sister)
James E. Lewis (brother)
Bobby Leonard (step-brother)
Mary F. (Cisson) Lewis (wife)

Plane data

Serial number
43-38165
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: St. Christopher Kids
Destination: Hamburg, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Rheunania Ossag oil refinery
MACR: 10305

More information

2nd Lt William F. Lewis graduated from Lebanon High School, Class of 1935.

Two engines were hit and damaged by flak. According to the last word received from the crew, they were heading towards Holland and had decided to abandon the plane in the North Sea and await an Air Rescue. No further communication was received.

The entire crew of nine men was killed.

Official Statement of Thomas C.S. Houser, 2nd Lt, Air Corps:
"This aircraft was last seen with two engines out on 4 November 1944 at 53˚52'N - 07˚00'E at 1322 hours. At 1342 hours it was reported that he was calling for Air Sea Resque at 53˚48'N - 05˚40'E. Reports over VHF stated that he would try to make Holland but then decided to ditch. No further confirmed reports were received from this aircraft and therefore it is not known whether it ditched or made a landing safely."

He is remembered at the Oak Hill Cemetery, in Lebanon, Boone County, Indiana.

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Terry Hirsch, Raf Dyckmans, www.94thbombgroup.com, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.8thafhs.com, The Greenville News (Greenville, South Carolina), WWII Draft Card
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, The Greenville News (Greenville, South Carolina) - 31 Dec 1944, Yearbook Lebanon High School Cedars 1935 via Eric Spall - Local History Specialist, Lebanon Indiana, www.findagrave.com - Marc Doty,