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name
GERMAN, Willie Warren - Date of
birth
28 October 1916 -
Age
27 - Place of
birth
Texas -
Hometown
Fort Sam Houston, Bexar County, Texas
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-750973 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Pilot -
Unit
20th Bombardment Squadron,
2nd Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
13 April 1944 - Place of
death
Pápa, Hungary
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Lorraine
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| A | 24 | 55 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Lee German (father)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-31837 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Gyor, Hungary
Mission: Bombing of the aircraft plant and depot
MACR: 3916
More information
2nd Lt Willie W. German was a accountant and auditor before he enlisted in Fort Sam Houston, Texas on 28 January 1942.T/Sgt Frederick B. Crutchfield, tail gunner of another B-17 in the group, witnesses what happened: "Just over the target, fighters attacked plane no. 42-31837, from 5 to 7 o’clock. This plane started smoking and a minute later started going down slowly under apparently good control. At this time the parachutes started to come out, the first parachute opened o.k., second and third parachute both on fire. The fourth and fifth parachute opened o.k. then the plane went into a steep dive and started spinning into a steep dive, after the ship had fallen about 17 or 18 thousand feet another parachute opened alright. The plane crashed a few seconds later, into the ground."
Five crew members survived and were taken prisoner, five men were killed.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov – WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record, www.fold3.com, www.findagrave.com – Mark, http://aircrewremembered.com/USAAFCombatOperations/Apr.44.html
Photo source: www.findagrave.com – Major M