William Echols Spragins Jr
Military ROLL OF HONOURAssigned to 568BS, 390BG, 8AF USAAF. Crew Number 25. Failed to Return (FTR) Mannheim in B-17 42-107176 'Univited Missionaries'; crashed into channel Killed in Action (KIA) MACR 11801
Awards: AM, PH.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 568th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-2063969
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 568th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 13180006
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 568th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 35801261
- Highest Rank: Technician Fourth Grade
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 568th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 37469041
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 568th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 11138584
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: NCO Bombardier / Togglier
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: The Uninvited Missionaires / The Missionaires
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 568th Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 21 January 1945
Places
- Site type: Cemetery
- Known as: Cambridge American Military Cemetery
![A bomber crew of the 390th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress ( serial number 42-31027) nicknamed "Honey Chile" and their dog and monkey mascots "Scrappy" and "Joe". Image stamped on reverse: ‘Fox.’ [stamp], ‘passed for publication 25 Oct 1943.’ [stamp] and ‘289774.’ [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: ‘AERIAL MASCOTS OF FORTRESS CREWS. PH/MoN. As frisky and friendly a pair of aerial mascots as you'll find in Britain are "Scrappy" and "Joe", pup and monkey team belonging to the](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380433.jpg.webp?itok=L7HbOA_i)
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Parham
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Salt Lake City, UT | 20 March 1923 | Son of William Echols and Elizabeth [McMullen] Spragins. |
|
Enlisted |
San Francisco, CA | 13 December 1942 | San Francisco, California |
|
Died |
North Sea | 21 January 1945 | Failed to Return (FTR) Mannheim in B-17 42-107176 'Univited Missionaries'; crashed into channel KIA MACR 11801 |
|
Based Killed in Action (KIA) |
Framlingham | 21 January 1945 | Assigned to 568BS, 390BG, 8AF USAAF. |
|
Buried |
Tablets of the Missing Cambridge American Cemetery Coton, Cambs, UK | ||
| San Marino, CA |
Revisions
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / www.390thspace.com/missions.php?name=Spragins%2C+William+E+Jr.
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources
MACR 11801 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database