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Personal info

Full name
SULLIVAN, William Joseph Jr
Date of birth
1 September 1915
Age
28
Place of birth
Malden, Middlesex County, Massachusetts
Hometown
Malden, Middlesex County, Massachusetts

Military service

Service number
31083240
Rank
Sergeant
Function
Ball Turret Gunner
Unit
748th Bombardment Squadron,
457th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
25 February 1944
Place of death
Mont-Saint-Martin, France

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Luxembourg
Tablets of the Missing

Immediate family

Members
William J. Sullivan Sr. (father)
Margaret M. (Murphy) Sullivan (mother)
Mary R. Sullivan (sister)
John F. Sullivan (brother)

Plane data

Serial number
42-31517
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Augsburg, Germany
Mission: Bombinf of the Me-210 airplanes production plant
MACR: 3003

More information

Sgt William J. Sullivan Jr. was employed at the Warren Pipe and Foundry Company before he enlisted at Fort Devens, Massachusetts on 29 August 1942.

The airplane was hit by flak over France and had to leave the formation. The pilot salvoed the bombs but was still not able to rejoin the formation and was attacked and shot down by fighter aircraft over Mont-Saint-Martin, France. Seven of his crew were killed, one evaded and two were taken prisoner.

Sgt Sullivan's remains were found in the wreckage.

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.ancestry.com - U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men / Campbell Family Tree, www.fold3.com – MACR, www.findagrave.com – Tim Cook, www.newspapers.com – The Boston Globe - 12 March 1944
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, www.findagrave.com - Vaughan Mavir