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name
MILLER, William Herbert - Date of
birth
27 April 1923 -
Age
21 - Place of
birth
Winchester, Frederick County, Virginia -
Hometown
Winchester, Frederick County, Virginia
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
33538108 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Top Turret Gunner -
Unit
548th Bombardment Squadron,
385th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Missing in Action - Date of
death
4 April 1945 - Place of
death
North Sea, northwest of Terschelling, the Netherlands
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten - Walls of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
William H. Miller (father)
Edith M. Miller (mother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
43-38210 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Angel's Sister
Destination: Kiel, Germany
Mission:Bombing of the Deutsche Werke AG, U-boat yards
MACR: 13720
More information
S/Sgt William H. Miller attended the University of Virginia and worked as a waiter.He enlisted in Charlottesville, Virginia, on 5 January 1943.
The airplane collided with B-17 #43-38639. It broke in two. The front half continued a loop and went over the top of the other aircraft. The remainder of the aircraft adhered to the other airplane. The front portion crashed into the North Sea and no parachutes were seen. The remainder crashed with the other aircraft.
An air/sea rescue search was made of the area, but no crew members were seen nor were any bodies recovered.
Both B-17s had nine crew members. All eighteen men were killed.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com
Photo source: FOHF, Miller Family