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name
GENDERS, William Edward - Date of
birth
27 June 1921 -
Age
23 - Place of
birth
Bloomington, McLean County, Illinois -
Hometown
San Diego County, California -
Religion
Protestant
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-783255 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Bombardier -
Unit
586th Bombardment Squadron,
394th Bombardment Group, Medium
-
Awards
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
23 January 1945 - Place of
death
Near Aarlen, Belgium
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Luxembourg
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| B | 1 | 8 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Harry O. Genders (father)
Irene (Hensel) Genders (mother)
Audrey Genders (sister)
Lois (Garling) Genders (wife)
Nancy L. Genders (daughter)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-96300 -
Data
Type: B-26F-1
Destination: Dasburg, Germany
Mission: Railroad bridge
MACR: 11924
More information
2nd Lt Genders graduated from Bloomington High School and attended the University of Illinois. In January of 1942, he went to San Diego, Californai, where he was employed as a draftsman at the Consolidated Aircraft Corporation.He was married to Lois Garling on 27 June 1942.
Hee enlisted ion 27 May 1943 and received his commission on 21 July 1944 and was sent overseas in November 1944
Statement from 1st Lt Bob Kiriakides:
As we passed the IP, Lt Babin’s aircraft was still in formation. Because of extreme density of clouds, the formation was forced to break up at this point. I was flying No. 5 position in the 3rd Flight. Lt. Babin was flying No. 6 position in the same flight. There was no flak that I could see and the last time I saw Lt Babin’s aircraft was when breaking formation. The formation did not reform and all aircraft came back to home base individually. Formation broke up about three minutes after leaving IP.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, www.abmc.gov, https://www.asisbiz.com, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.newspapers.com - The Pantagraph
Photo source: www.findagrave.com – Luxembourg American Cemetery, www.ancestry.com - Bloomington High School yearbook 1939, www.newspapers.com - The Pantagraph