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name
GREEN, William Henry - Date of
birth
6 April 1923 -
Age
21 - Place of
birth
Pennsylvania -
Hometown
Sutersville, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-719056 -
Rank
First Lieutenant -
Function
Navigator -
Unit
615th Bombardment Squadron,
401st Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
2 November 1944 - Place of
death
Near Wallendorf, 3 km east of Merseburg, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Henri-Chapelle - Tablets of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
William C. Green (father)
Clara B. Green (mother)
Albert A. Green (brother)
Alma L. Green (sister)
Margret Q. Green (sister)
James E. Green (brother)
Chas C. Green (sister)
Lyda J. Green (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
43-38159 -
Data
Type: B-17 G
Nickname: Wolf Pack
Destination: Merseburg, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Leuna synthetic oil refinery
MACR: 10159
Biography
http://www.remember-our-heroes.nl/us_green.htmMore information
1st Lt William H. Green attended college and was a draftsman.He enlisted in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, on 29 January 1943.
The airplane was hit by flak near the No. 3 engine. Ten seconds later, the aircraft went into a spin and dived out of control. Three parachutes were seen to come out of the aircraft. From the crew of nine, only the pilot, 1st Lt Herbert L. Oas, survived and was taken prisoner.
According to German records the killed crew members were buried at the cemetery of Wallendorf, except for 2nd Lt William M. Mencow who was buried at the cemetery of Kriegsdorf (about 1 mile to the south).
After the war, the remains of five were never recovered by an American Search and Recovery unit: S/Sgt Theodore Monarcky, S/Sgt John J. Reardon, 2nd Lt William H. Green and T/Sgt William C. Brereton, who are all remembered at the Tablets of the Missing at Henri-Chapelle. T/Sgt Byron Cook is remembered at the Tablets of the Missing at Luxemburg American Military Cemetery.
An explanation could be that the section of the Wallendorf Cemetery where the subject deceased were interred received a direct bomb hit two days after they were interred, which caused a crater 28 to 30 feet wide and 10 to 12 feet deep. Investigation of this crater disclosed the fact that the remains found could not be segregated, making identification impossible.
In one picture, he poses with a niece.
Additional information can be found at http://www.remember-our-heroes.nl/us_green.htm
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.fold3.com - MACR, IDPF of William C. Brereton
Photo source: Andy Swinnen, Peter Schouteten, Arie-Jan van Hees, Navigator Class book 44-05, San Marcos, Texas, Amandine Jaunet - Henri-Chapelle Cemetery Associate