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Submit- Full
name
HUDSON, William Leonard - Date of
birth
20 October 1923 -
Age
21 - Place of
birth
Douglas County, Georgia -
Hometown
Douglasville, Douglas County, Georgia
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
34764971 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Top Turret Gunner -
Unit
323rd Bombardment Squadron,
91st Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
20 February 1945 - Place of
death
Wohrderwiese, Nürnberg, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| B | 35 | 52 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Clifford M. Hudson (father)
J. E. Hudson (mother)
James C. Hudson (brother)
Oliver T. Hudson (brother)
Clark A. Hudson (brother)
O.B. Hudson (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-102490 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: The Wicked Witch
Destination: Nürnberg, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the railroad station and marshalling yard
MACR: 12556
More information
S/Sgt William L. Hudson enlisted at Fort McPherson, Atlanta, Georgia on 23 March 1943.Statement of F/O Meyer Feinberg:
"Approximately 30 seconds prior to bombs away I observed an explosion in aircraft B-17G, 42-102490. Flames came out out of the bomb bay and the top turret. Black smoke issued from the aircraft for a few moments and a few seconds later the bombs were salvoed. The aircraft appeared to turn black from about the radio room and gradually began to loose altitude. The top turret gunner of our crew reported there was a hole in the fuselage of aircraft (490) behind and to the side of the top turret in the forward part of the bomb bay. I believe that it was quite possible an oxigen explosion. I observed no crew members leave the aircraft nor parachutes open. The tail gunner of our ship also reported that he saw no one leave the aircraft."
Three crew members survived and were taken prisoner. Six were killed. They were initially buried at the cemetery of Fürth, Germany
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Peter Schouteten, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, WWII Draft Card
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Sam Hudson