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Personal info

Full name
WATT, Arthur William "Art"
Date of birth
5 September 1922
Age
21
Place of birth
Blue Island, Cook County, Illinois
Hometown
Cook County, Illinois

Military service

Service number
36719163
Rank
Technical Sergeant
Function
Radio Operator
Unit
708th Bombardment Squadron,
447th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
29 April 1944
Place of death
Helmstedt, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
D 9 55

Immediate family

Members
Burtie S. Watt (father)
Mabel H. (Aulwurm) Watt (mother)
Marian Watt (sister)

Plane data

Serial number
42-37868
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Due Back
Destination: Berlin, Germany
MACR: 4251

More information

T/Sgt Arthur W. Watt graduated from Blue Island Community High School with the class of 1940 and attended the University of Chicago for one year. He was employed at the Chicago Rock Island and Pacific Railroad.

He arrived in England on 8 April 1944 and received his promotion to Technical Sergeant on 26 April.

The aircraft flying #6 high squadron was hit by enemy fighters and was knocked out of formation. It was last seen going down, apparently under control, but with 3 engines afire. Four chutes were observed.

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Astrid van Erp, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.newspaperarchive.com - Blue Island Sun Standard, www.ancestry.com - Birth Index / Family Trees

Photo source: Peter Schoutetten, www.newspaperarchive.com - Blue Island Sun Standard, www.ancestry.com - Blue Island Community High School Yearbook 1938