Memorial

More information

William J. Osborne Jr. graduated from Waverly High School in 1939. He also graduated from college.

He was employed at the Pratt & Whitney airplane motor plant in Hartford, Connecticut, before he enlisted in Buffalo, Erie County, New York, on 11 November 1942. He started his training in January 1943 and received his wings and commission in early 1944 at Moore Field, Texas. After being assigned to combat training at Harding Field, Louisiana, he was sent overseas in July 1944.

He was credited with shooting down one enemy plane.

The following statement is of Capt Eugene E. Barnum Jr., who was the flight leader during the mission:
"On 24 October 1944, I was leading Whippet Red Flight on an offensive sweep over Central Germany. Due to an almost complete overcast, at about 3,000 ft, we were able to do very little and turned to come home.
"Just east of the Zuiderzee, our group let down below the overcast, and proceeded to make landfall out at zero feet. Red Flight crossed the Zuiderzee on a vector of 270 degrees, which took our flight about a mile north of the Isle of Marken. Guns from the isle opened fire, the aim being very accurate as to range and lead. During this fire, Red 3 was hit and his gas tank set afire. His plane was burning pretty badly. I called and told him to head for land. Red 3 acknowledged this, pulled up to about 300ft, crossed over me, then winged over and dove into the water. The plane's left wing struck the water and drew it over on its back. The plane was burning and appeared to explode as it hit the water."