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name
BARRETT, William John - Date of
birth
11 October 1908 -
Age
34 - Place of
birth
Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania -
Hometown
Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
33261416 -
Rank
Technical Sergeant -
Function
Radio Operator -
Unit
323rd Bombardment Squadron,
91st Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
17 August 1943 - Place of
death
Close to the Oude Mechelsebaan, Langdorp, Belgium
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| A | 35 | 6 |
Immediate family
-
Members
John J. Barrett (father)
Katherine Barrett (mother)
Gaynell Barrett (sister)
Julia Barrett (wife)
Maureen K. Barrett (daughter)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-29559 -
Data
Type: B-17F
Nickname: Stup-'N-Takit
Destination: Schweinfurt, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the ball bearing plants
MACR: 278
More information
William Barrett was an industrial engineer before he enlisted in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on 10 April 1942.In the vicinity of the Belgian-German border the airplane was attacked by several FW-190s, damaging the nose and knocking out #1 and #2 engines. It had to leave the formation and turn back. Not much later, the enemy fighters attacked from the rear and unfortunately the guns of the tail gunner didn't function anymore. During this attack # 4 engine was knocked out. Controls were damaged, the wings were shattered with holes and the autopilot was knocked out.
Three crew members were killed in the aircraft during these attacks. The other seven men could bail out before the plane exploded. Four of them were badly wounded and were taken prisoner. Three men evaded capture and were helped by the resistance group Comet to escape. One of them was captured close to the Spanish border. Two reached Gibraltar and returned to England.
The killed men were initially buried at the cemetery of Sint-Truiden.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov - Pennsylvania, U.S., Veteran Compensation Application Files
Photo source: www.findagrave.com - courtesy of Jody Kelly, secretary of the 91st Bomb Group Memorial Association