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Submit- Full
name
SIMMONS, William Clinton "Billy" - Date of
birth
26 May 1924 -
Age
20 - Place of
birth
Surry County, North Carolina -
Hometown
Graham, Alamance County, North Carolina
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-764808 -
Rank
First Lieutenant -
Function
Co-Pilot -
Unit
47th Squadron,
313th Troop Carrier Group
-
Awards
Bronze Star,
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
24 March 1945 - Place of
death
Hamminkeln, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| M | 22 | 1 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Thomas M. Simmons (father)
Olivia V. (Jackson) Simmons (mother)
Edna L. (Oakley) Simmons (sister)
Buster M. Simmons (brother)
Walter W. Simmons (brother)
Harold G. simmons (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
44-77595 -
Data
Type: C-46D
Destination: Drop Zone X, north of Wesel, Germany
Mission: Paratroop Drop
MACR: 13421
More information
1st Lt William C. Simmons joined the Air Corps on 11 March 1943. He successfully completed the Basic Flying Training course and was graduated from Marana Army Air Field in Tucson, Arizona. He was sent overseas near the end of July 1944.The airplane was shot down by anti-aircraft fire on the aproach to the dropzone and exploded when hitting the ground.
The entire crew of four men was killed and of the 34 passengers, all members of C Company of the 513th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 17th Airborne Division, only 10 survived.
On the last picture shows Lt William C. Simmons on the left and Sgt Buster M. Simmons on the right.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.findagrave.com, www.ancestry.com - Family Trees, www.newspaperarchive.com - Burlington Daily Times-News, https://newspaperarchive.com
Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Des Philippet, https://newspaperarchive.com, Arie-Jan van Hees, Pilot Class Book 44-A, Marfa, Texas.