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name
MAY, William Laurence - Date of
birth
29 November 1922 -
Age
22 - Place of
birth
Niagara Falls, Niagara County, New York -
Hometown
Niagara Falls, Niagara County, New York
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
12207104 -
Rank
Sergeant -
Function
Ball Turret Gunner -
Unit
568th Bombardment Squadron,
390th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
14 January 1945 - Place of
death
Friesack, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| B | 16 | 9 |
Immediate family
-
Members
William J. May (father)
Josephine E. (Pettitt) May (mother)
Elizabeth J. May (sister)
Katherine M. May (sister)
Rosella J. May (sister)
James A. May (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
43-38526 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Star Duster
Destination: Derben, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the oil storage
MACR: 11722
More information
Sgt William L. May attended Niagara Falls High School and was a photographer before he joined the Signal Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve in Buffalo, New York, on 9 November 1942.The aircraft was lost during intense fighter attacks by approximately 100 Fw 190s and ME 109s at about 1240 hours. Due to the fact that the entire squadron was lost during this encounter, there are no particulars available on the attack and subsequent loss of this aircraft.
Three crew members were killed, six were taken prisoner. Victor J. Perrotta was shot dead when he tried to escape.
The crew members, killed in the crash, were initially buried at the community cemetery of Friesack on 16 January 1945.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans,Terry Hirsch, WWII Memorial, Fold3 MACR, www.ancestry.com - U.S., Headstone and Interment Records for U.S. Military Cemeteries on Foreign Soil,WWII Draft Card, 1940 US Census
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, www.findagrave.com - patootie / www.390th.org, Niagara Falls Gazette - 7 February 1945