Personnel

CREW



2ND LT LEWIS C. WILLIAMS                P KIA 9 NOV 44 SAARBRUCKEN, MY (S.T.)

2ND LT AUBREY J. BLOCKSON            CP CPT 5 APR 45 NURNBURG, MY

2ND LT WILLIS R. McGUIRE              NAV KIA 3 MAR 45 BRUNSWICK (WITH J. THRASHER CREW)

2ND LT ROBERT B. SWAN                BOM NOC

CPL JOSEPH R. FEAGANS                  ROG NOC

CPL DONALD D. McMILLAN               TTE SWA 9 NOV 44 SAARBRUCKEN, MY (S.T.)

CPL VERON C. KERR                         BTG CPT 15 FEB 45 RUHLAND CITY, COTTBUS, CITY TAPS: 30 JUN 1984

CPL GORDON W. HUMRICHOUS          WG SWA 9 NOV 44 SAARBRUCKEN, MY (S.T.)  TAPS: 22 DEC 1978

CPL LYMAN R. MORNINGSTAR            WG NOC

CPL ROBERT C. HEDGES                    TG NOC



349TH SQDN.. CREW, AS ABOVE, JOINED THE 100TH ON 5 OCT 1944. 



ON 09 NOV 44 (SAARBRUCKEN) LT WILLIAMS WAS KIA WHILE BAILING OUT FROM A/C 231986 "ONCE IN A WHILE" ALSO REFERRED TO AS "BOOMERANG" IN 100TH BG RECORDS.  HE WAS CAUGHT ON THE STABILIZER AND TAKEN TO HIS DEATH.  TWO OTHER CREW MEMBERS SUFFERD INJURIES WHILE BAILING OUT FROM THE FLAK DAMAGED AIRCRAFT.  THE A/C CRASHED NEAR THE TOWN OF PERLE IN BELGIUM.  (from Ray Bowdens book "Plane Names & Bloody Noses 100th Bomb Group)



Aircraft did not return to Thorpe Abbotts but crashed on the continent in Belgium and the remaining crew members were returned to Thrope Abbotts, the aircrarft was salvaged December 8, 1944.



Subj: Re: [Fwd: Lt Lewis Williams]  

Date: 4/7/2005 9:54:13 PM Pacific Daylight Time 

From: mpteague@comcast.net 

To: MPFaley@aol.com, charlie@100thbg.com, mike@100thbg.com, harry@100thbg.com 

CC: rhedges1@woh.rr.com, OHBerry@aol.com 

Sent from the Internet (Details) 

 

Mr. Faley,

 

The remaining family members do not know much about the specifics of Lt Williams' service time.  However, I have a couple pieces of information that may help complete some of the puzzle.

 

According to Lt Williams' obituary, he enlisted in the AAF on January 7, 1942 and received training at fields in Tennessee and California.  He was awarded his commission and wings on February 8, 1944.  There is other information on the obituary regarding four-engine certification (or something), but we currently only have a copy of the first part of the obituary at my house.  The original is at my wife's mother's house.  I will send another email once I retrieve the original obituary and determine if there's any more pertinent information.

 

Sue Hedges, the wife of Lt Williams' tailgunner, sent a copy of a Program of Ceremonies from the 1999 memorial honoring Lt Williams and his crew in Perle, Luxembourg.  The citation at the beginning states that he was on his 4th mission for the 100th Bomb Group and his 69th mission overall.  The citation also states that Lt Williams was highly decorated, but we have no knowledge (or possession) of any medals except his posthumonously awarded Purple Heart (which my mother-in-law has stored away somewhere).  I have included a copy of the program below.  More information about this ceremony can be provided by Bob and Sue Hedges at rhedges1@woh.rr.com.



I retrieved the original clipping of Lt Williams' obituary.  What is typed below is the obituary in its entirety, and it may provide the answer to what he was doing between 1942 and 1943 and may also explain the large number of missions attributed to him:

 

"Second Lieut. Williams, 22, pilot of a B-17 bomber, was killed Nov 9, in a raid over Germany, according to word received by his parents.  Mrs. Williams is affiliated with the Franklin Trust Company.  Her son, enlisted in the Army Air Force, Jan. 7, 1942, training at fields in Tennessee and California, being commissioned Feb. 8, 1944.  He then received four-engine training at Hobbs, N.M., and Rapids City, S.D.  On anti-submarine patrol for 15 months, he received three citations before being assigned to the European theatre of operations." (Emphasis added)

 

 

© 2004 by

Friends of the

385th Bomb Group



All rights reserved



[ contact us ]  Program of ceremonies 1999

On November 9, 1944, a 'Flying Fortress' B-17 passed over Perlé,  coming back from a mission over Germany. The plane was hit by AA fire and the pilot tried to bring down the B-17 safely. The crew bailed out as the pilot, Lt. Lewis C. Williams, was looking for a place to down "Boomerang". Finally, Williams bailed out too, but his parachute was caught up in the tail fuselage.

On this 4th mission, pilot Lt. Lewis C. Williams, 100th Bomb Group, 349th Squadron, stationed at Thorpe Abbots AFB, died in the crash of his plane. He flew a total of 69 missions as a highly decorated airman.

Memorial 385th Bomb Group

Perlé (Luxembourg)

Saturday 10 July 1999

55  years  ago

100th Bomb Group 



Link to official site of the 100th Bomb Group (H)

Program of ceremonies

9:00 AM

Arrival D-Day Group (Historical cars W.W.II)

10:00 AM

Visit to the crash sites in the municipality of Rambrouch by historical cars

Route: Perle - Flatzbour - Rambrouch (Halifax / 2 P47) - Folschette (P47) - Eschette - Arsdorf (Fairey Battle) - Bigonville (P47) - Martelange/Rombach - Wolwelange (B-17) - Perle (2 B-17)

Lunch and visit of the camp

2:30 PM

Ceremony in front of the monuments

Dedication to Lt. Lewis C. Williams, Pilot B-17 "Boomerang", 100th Bomb Group (+ 9 November 1944 - Perle)

Unveiling by Robert Hedges

Color Guard

Honor Guard  Capt. Andrew Brinkman

Over flight: 2 Birddog, 3 Aerosport, 3 Aeroplume,

Pilatus P-3, Bucker (biplan), Piper PA-18, Warbird Texan T6

Parade by 'D-Day Remember Group'

Air show, Airdrop

Reception at the 'Centre Culturel'

Concert Fanfare St. Lambert Perle 

  Friends of the 385th Bomb Group and Memorial Museum Perle 

Association sans but lucratif (non-profit organization) gft