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name
SIMPSON, Willard O - Date of
birth
3 June 1918 -
Age
24 - Place of
birth
Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa -
Hometown
Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
37117178 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Left Waist Gunner -
Unit
324th Bombardment Squadron,
91st Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
21 May 1943 - Place of
death
North Sea, north of Schiermonikoog, the Netherlands
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten - Walls of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
Ole C. Simpson (father)
Carrie M. Simpson (mother)
Vera M. Simpson (sister)
Glen B. Simpson (brother)
Rachel E. Simpson (sister)
Lee B. Simpson (brother)
Elizabeth Simpson (sister)
Elenore M. Simpson (sister)
Richard E. Simpson (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
41-24515 -
Data
Type: B-17F
Nickname: Jersey Bounce / Marie Jane
Destination: Wilhemshaven, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the U-boat yards
MACR: 3458
More information
Willard Simpson, gradudated from East high School in 1936 and was employed by by the Campbell Heating Co. and at the Burlington and Ankeny ordnance plants.The airplane was shot down by enemy fighters. The entire crew of ten men was killed.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, MACR, www.newspapers.com - The Des Moines Register
Photo source: FOHF, www.ancestry.com - East High School Yearbook 1936