Melvin Harry Williams
MilitaryAssigned to 735BS, 453BG, 8AF USAAF. 28 combat missions. Missing in Action (MIA) mission to Berlin in B-24 41-28591 attacked by E/A setting two engines alight, baled out 21-Jun-44. Prisoner of War (POW). MACR 5933.
"On our 28th and last mission the target was Berlin. We were hit by nine JU 88's before reaching the target. A JU 88 is a twin engine fighter and fires 20mm explosive shells. One shell knocked a large hole in No. 1 prop dome. We immediately lost all oil in that engine and had no control over engine or propeller. Another shell entered cock-pit at right side of instrument panel and came across Hagan's lap, thru the back of my seat and exploded against the left wall of the radio compartment. It opened up the wall so that we could see the fuel tanks in the wings. It set fire to the wall covering and a shell fragment hit Burton, radio operator, in the forehead. Just laid it open to the bone the complete width of his head."
Awards: POW, WWII Victory, EAME.
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: 453rd Bomb Group 735th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 39263993
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: waist gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 735th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 36500777
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 735th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-811072
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 735th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 14185571
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 735th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-743639
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: Archibald
- Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 735th Bomb Squadron
Places
- Site type: Prisoner of war camp
- Known as: Dulag Luft Grosstychow Dulag 12
- Site type: Airfield
- Site type: Prisoner of war camp
- Known as: Stalag Luft III, Sagan, Germany
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Cope, CO | 14 December 1916 | Son of Charles Thomas Williams and Mrs Meta L Smith. |
Other Prisoner of War (POW) |
Zagan, Poland | 21 June 1944 | Prisoner of War (POW). Stalag Luft III. |
Other Shot down |
Berlin, Germany | 21 June 1944 | Missing in Action (MIA) mission to Berlin in B-24 41-28591 attacked by E/A setting two engines alight, baled out 21-Jun-44. POW. MACR 5933. |
Died |
20 October 1967 | ||
Buried |
Cope Cemetery Cope, Washington County, CO | 23 October 1967 | Cope Cemetery Cope, Washington County, Colorado |
Cope, Colorado, USA | |||
Based Assigned |
Old Buckenham | 21 June 1944 | Assigned to 735BS, 453BG, 8AF USAAF. |