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Cpl William T. Hollis graduated from Hyde Park High School in 1939 where he played in the school band, sang in the choir and was a member of the Photography Club. He also attended the University of Chicago from 1941 to 1943.

Cpl. Hollis was employed by the Science and Industry Museum in Chicago when he joined the U.S. Army Reserve in Chicago, Illinois on 13 October 1942.

He received his training as a radio man at Keesler Field, Mississippi and then went to radio school in Sedalia, Missouri. In May 1944 he flew to England with his squadron. The mission on which he was lost was his first combat mission

The airplane carried four crew members and seventeen passengers, all members of B Company of the British 10th Parachute Battalion.

The following is an extract of the statement of 2nd Lt Clinton C. Denny, the co-pilot of another C-47 in the same group: The enemy had been firing about 30 seconds when I noticed Lt Spurrier's plane nose down slightly and pass below our ship heading to the left of the course and then cutting back to the right about 30 degrees off our course. It was during this time that the paratroopers started jumping out. My estimate is that six or possibly more, managed to jump. At this time the plane started a slight turn to the left and I noticed one man jump out. His parachute had just started to come out of the pack when he struck the ground. At the same time, a second man jumped out and his chute was hanging in a trail position but I do not believe it had opened enough to check his fall. These last two men used the white type chutes carried by crew members. About this time the ship hit the ground near some high tension wires and burst into flames. From my point of observation I do not believe that the Pilot or Co-Pilot could have escaped from the ship as it was burning fiercely. On returning from the drop, explosions were coming from the ship.

The following is an extract of the statement of Edward S. Fulmer, the co-pilot of this airplane, who survived the crash: At around 1402 hours we were getting fired on for some time and we got a flak burst just ahead of the nose and immediately after a flak shell burst inside the navigation compartement. Fire broke out inside the aircraft. I was flying the plane at the time and was listening out on the VHF radio set and the pilot, Lt Spurrier, was connected with the crew chief on the intercom set. I reached over and shook Spurrier, wanting to get him to get the fire extinguisher as smoke and flames were coming inside the cockpit. Spurrier was sort of slumped over in his seat and I couldn't arouse him. I held the ship level and pulled out of the formation to give my paratroopers and other crew men time to get out. I felt the slight jar as the troops left the ship and the flames were burning my face and left side, shoulder and back. I nosed the ship down for a crash landing, smoke and flames were blinding me an I was not able to see the ground plainly or hardly at all. I pulled the cord on my flak suit and released it from around me. I was dazed and in great aginy from the burns and shock. We were on the ground and the plane was burning.

Cpl Hollis bailed out but his parachute was shredded by the shrapnel that had hit the airplane and didn't open

Two crew members survived, two men were killed. They were initially buried at the local cemetery of Opheusden.