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name
BELL, William J - Date of
birth
23 December 1921 -
Age
22 - Place of
birth
Scranton, Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania -
Hometown
Newark, Essex County, New Jersey
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
12137132 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Tail Gunner -
Unit
367th Bombardment Squadron,
306th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
22 February 1944 - Place of
death
Rieferath, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| N | 9 | 7 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Margret Bell (mother)
Gertrude Bell (wife)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-31670 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Caught in the Draft
Destination: Bernberg, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Junkers Motoren-Werke aviation industry
MACR: 2654
More information
S/Sgt William J. Bell was employed at National Union Radio Corporation.He volunteered for the Army of the United States in Newark, New Jersey on 15 September 1942.
The airplane was attacked by enemy fighters and cracked in the air, went into a spin and crashed.
Six crew members survived and ware taken prisoner. Four men were killed. They were initially buried at the cemetery of Herchen on 25 February 1944.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Terry Hirsch, Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, WWII Draft Registration Card
Photo source: Peter Schouteten