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name
SALYER, Billy Morris - Date of
birth
1924 -
Age
unknown - Place of
birth
unknown -
Hometown
Waverly, Lafayette County, Missouri
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
17060597 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Tail Gunner -
Unit
561st Bombardment Squadron,
388th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
2 October 1943 - Place of
death
North Sea
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| C | 22 | 4 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Dewey G. Salyer (father)
Lillie Salyer (mother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-30421 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Emden, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the industrial area
MACR: 3135
More information
S/Sgt Billy M. Salyer graduated from Waverly High School in 1942.He volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas on 8 October 1942.
Three to four minutes after having dropped the bomb load the airplane ran into problems. Apparently it was hit by flak and the propeller on number one engine was feathered. At the same time a minor fire started in number two engine. The aircraft entered a spiral dive while the crew bailed out. All parachutes were seen crashing in the North Sea on position 53'35N 07'10E.
The entire crew of ten men was killed.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, WWIIMemorial.com, NARA, Footnote.com
Photo source: www.findagrave.com, Dick Henggeler