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name
HICKS, William L - Date of
birth
1923 -
Age
unknown - Place of
birth
Louisiana -
Hometown
Coushatta, Red River Parish, Louisiana
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-775238 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
unknown -
Unit
773rd Bombardment Squadron,
463rd Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
13 October 1944 - Place of
death
Aspern, Austria
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Lorraine
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| C | 17 | 4 |
Immediate family
-
Members
William J. Hicks (father)
Plane data
- Serial
number
43-38482 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Vienna, Austria
Mission: Bombing of the oil refinery
MACR: 9054
More information
2nd Lt William L. Hickscollege before he joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve in Natchitoches, Louisiana on 10 May 1942.S/Sgt Joe A. Davis:
“I saw ship 482 go into a flat spin just over the target. It exploded into flames. It made about three revolutions to the right before the explosion. It was impossible for me to see if any chutes came from the ship, as it was so far below us.”
2nd Lt John R. Brooks:
“My supposition is that he was unable to get out of the plane before it blew up, as it was in a spin.”
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.newspapers.com – The Times Louisiana 19 April 1944, http://aircrewremembered.com/USAAFCombatOperations/Oct.44.html
Photo source: Arie-Jan van Hees, Pilot Class book 44-D, Pecos, Texas.