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name
LORD, William Roy Jr - Date of
birth
16 August 1917 -
Age
26 - Place of
birth
Conneaut, Ashtabula County, Ohio -
Hometown
Conneaut, Ashtabula County, Ohio
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
35021798 -
Rank
Sergeant -
Function
Right Waist Gunner -
Unit
551st Bombardment Squadron,
385th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
12 July 1944 - Place of
death
Northwest of Perlé, Luxembourg
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Henri-Chapelle
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| A | 10 | 2 |
Immediate family
-
Members
William R. Lord (father)
Sarah B. Lord (mother)
James R. Lord (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-31917 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Off Spring
Destination: Munich, Germany
Mission: Bombing of a marshalling yard, an aircraft engine factory and an airfield
MACR: 7507
More information
William Lord attended college and was an artist and art teacher.He enlisted in Cleveland, Ohio, on 1 April 1941.
The B-17 with serial number 42-31917 was caught in the prop wash of the preceding aircraft, causing it to nose up and collide with B-17 #42-102606. Upon impact, #42-31917 broke in two at the waist gun positions and was last seen falling through the undercast.
One crew member survived and was taken prisoner, and nine men were killed.
His brother, 2nd Lt James R. Lord, was killed in action on 10 August 1944 and is remembered on the Tablets of the Missing at Florence American Cemetery.
Both brothers are also remembered at the Center Cemetery in Conneaut, Ashtabula County, Ohio.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Carla Mans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.ancestry.com - 1930 Census / U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Conneaut High School 1935, www.findagrave.com