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Personal info

Full name
NEWSOM, Walter William
Date of birth
13 November 1917
Age
26
Place of birth
Meeker, Rio Blanco County, Colorado
Hometown
Lodi, San Joaquin County, California

Military service

Service number
39390583
Rank
Second Lieutenant
Function
Co-Pilot
Unit
358th Bombardment Squadron,
303rd Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Missing in Action
Date of death
3 February 1944
Place of death
40 miles off Terschelling, North Sea

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Walls of the Missing

Immediate family

Members
Walter Newsom (father)
Kitty F. Newsom (mother)
Virginia Newsom (sister)
Forest Newsom (brother)
Azile C. (Tockey) Newsom (wife)

Plane data

Serial number
42-37927
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Wilhelmshaven
Mission: Bombing of the U-boat yards
MACR: 2238

More information

2nd Lt Walter W. Newsom was a meatcutter.

He enlisted in Sacramento, California on 24 June 1942.

The airplane was probably hit by flak and was last seen after leaving the target and peeling off from the formation as to penetrate the overcast. It rolled over on its back and headed straight down. It crashed into the North Sea with the loss of the entire crew of ten and no bodies were recovered.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.ancestry.com - 1920 Census, Social Security Record, 303 Bomb Group, www.fold3.com - MACR, WWII Draft Card

Photo source: Peter Schouteten, 303 Bomb Group, Arie-Jan van Hees, Pilot Class Book 43-I, Bruce Field, Ballinger, Texas.