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name
HESLEY, William Francis - Date of
birth
22 April 1921 -
Age
24 -
Place of birth
Texarkana, Miller County, Arkansas -
Hometown
Dallas, Dallas County, Texas
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O2071803 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Navigator -
Unit
327th Bombardment Squadron,
92nd Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
25 April 1945 - Place of
death
Ceminy, Czechoslavakia
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Lorraine
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| E | 8 | 35 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Jesse S. Hesley (father)
Mary J. (Raffaelli) Hesley (mother)
Louis S. Hesley (brother)
Mary L. Hesley (sister)
Jesse P. Hesley (brother)
Francis P. Hesley (brother)
Maribelle (Barnes) Hesley (wife)
Johnnie Hesley (son)
Plane data
- Serial
number
43-38369 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Checkerboard Fort
Destination: Pilsen, Czechoslavakia
Mission: Bombing of the Skoda works munitions plant
MACR: 14222
More information
2nd Lt William F. Hesley was a mechanic before he volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States in Dallas, Texas on 1 October 1942.1st Lt Harold D. Cupitt:
#1 and #2 engines were on fire then ship blew up before entering clouds.
T/Sgt Neal H. Modert:
He was killed by flak.
He is remembered at the Evergreen Cemetery at Paris, Lamar, Texas.
The crew is remembered on a memorial stone in Ceminy, Czechoslavakia.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / Carol Gurley Family Tree, www.fold3.com – MACR, www.findagrave.com – James Durham / Norton, www.newspapers.com – The Paris News - 13 May 1945
Photo source: www.findagrave.com – Damaris Acevedo / Bob Bardo / Jon Strupp / Norton, www.newspapers.com – Helper Journal - 22 March 1945