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name
MURRAY, William B - Date of
birth
28 February 1917 -
Age
27 - Place of
birth
Milton, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania -
Hometown
Hughesville, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-746405 -
Rank
First Lieutenant -
Function
Pilot -
Unit
349th Bombardment Squadron,
100th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
6 March 1944 - Place of
death
Hollwedel, 25 miles southeast of Oldenburg, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| D | 37 | 2 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Robert S. Murray (father)
Helen B. Murray (mother)
Christine Murray (sister)
Robert S. Murray (brother)
Charlotte C. Murray (sister)
George W. Murray (brother)
Maxime M. Murray (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-30799 -
Data
Type: B-17F
Nickname: Big Ass Bird II
Destination: Berlin, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Friedrichstrasse railroad station
MACR: 3017
More information
1st Lt William B. Murray enlisted at Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania on 17 January 1941 receiving his basic training at Fort Benning, Ga., where he gained the rank of technical sergeant. He transferred to the Army Air Corps in September 1942 and was commissioned in June 1943 at Roswell Army Flying School. He then went to Moses Lake, where part of his crew was formed and from there to Kearnes, where he got the remainder of them. After a brief leave home in early November he was sent overseas in January 1944.The airplane was attacked by enemy aircraft and went straight down into undercast with the tail on fire. All engines seemed OK. No parachutes were observed. Three crewmembers were killed, seven were taken prisoner.
1st Murray's head was blown off by a 20mm shell before the airplane crashed. His body was destroyed by the fire and explosion of the bombs after crashing into the ground.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.newspapers.com - Williamsport Sun-Gazette, www.ancestry.com - Veteran Compensation Application File
Photo source: www.findagrave.com, Peter Schouteten