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KING, Willard Everett - Date of
birth
4 July 1923 -
Age
21 - Place of
birth
Sparkman, Dallas County, Arkansas -
Hometown
Sparkman, Dallas County, Arkansas
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-704224 -
Rank
First Lieutenant -
Function
Bombardier -
Unit
615th Bombardment Squadron,
401st Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Missing in Action - Date of
death
11 September 1944 - Place of
death
Merseburg, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Henri-Chapelle - Tablets of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
John F. King (father)
Zelma King (mother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-31091 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Merseburg, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the oil refinery
MACR: 8920
More information
Willard King attended college for one year.He joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve in Little Rock, Arkansas on 17 November 1942. He was sent overseas in May 1944.
According to crew members of other airplanes in the group, the aircraft's hydraulic system was on fire due to flak hits. It turned out of the formation, but because of intense flak and the fact that they were on the bomb run, additional observations were not possible.
According to the pilot, who survived, flak hit the cockpit area. The interphone and radio were destroyed, and the oxygen system exploded, filling the cockpit with flames so intense that the aluminium skin was burning. This obscured all vision.
Four crew members survived and were taken prisoner; five men were killed.
He is remembered at the Sardis Cemetery in Pine Grove, Arkansas.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com
Photo source: FOHF, www.remember-our-heroes.nl - Andy Swinnen, Storiesbehindthestars.org