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name
TERHUNE, William Albert - Date of
birth
31 March 1914 -
Age
29 - Place of
birth
Morgan, Coles County, Indiana -
Hometown
Kirklin, Clinton County, Indiana
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
35041062 -
Rank
Technical Sergeant -
Function
Radio Operator/Gunner -
Unit
452nd Bombardment Squadron,
322nd Bombardment Group, Medium
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
23 November 1943 - Place of
death
Blendecques, France
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| C | 13 | 40 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Albert F. Terhune (father)
Ethel J. (Proffet) Terhune (mother)
Helen L. Carlisle (fiancee)
Plane data
- Serial
number
41-31817 -
Data
Type: B-26
Destination: Saint-Omer/Longuenesse
Mission: Bombing of the airfield
MACR: 1187
More information
William Terhune attended high school for four years and was a mechanic.He enlisted at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana on 6 March 1942.
According to F/O William D. Petars, who was the co-pilot of another B-26 in the same group, this airplane bursted into flames right after the bombs were released. When it passed beneath their own airplane, it was a mass of flames. It went into a flat spin, one wing broke off and it began to roll and half way to the ground it appeared to break into sections.
The entire crew of six men was killed.
T/Sgt William A. Terhune first buried at the Temporary American Military Cemetery of St. André, France.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com, www.ancestry.com - U.S.,
Headstone and Interment Records for U.S. Military Cemeteries on Foreign Soil, http://francecrashes39-45.net
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, www.findagrave.com - Dwight Needens