William Edward Wenckens

Military

Shot down 10 October 1943 in B-17 #42-3328 'Miss Fortune', Prisoner of War (POW).



POW

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 390th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • 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-794590
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

Lieutenant John G Winiant Jr of the 390th Bomb Group taxies a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Wittan's Wallopers" at Framlingham. Passed as censored 15 Aug 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'Photo Shows: The Fortress piloted by Lieut. John G. Winant Jnr. arriving back at the dispersal, at his station somewhere in England. G. Aug 1943. PN.' Censor no: 278785 . On reverse: Planet News Ltd., US Army Press Censor ETO and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps].
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Tech Supply
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 390th Bomb Group 561st Bomb Squadron 568th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Blood, Guts & Rust II
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 568th Bomb Squadron
A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-3328) nicknamed "Miss Fortune" of the 390th Bomb Group flies over countryside. Image via Bob Jesko Handwritten caption on reverse: '568 BS, 8143+ Bloomville Hall, Hacheston.;
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Miss Fortune
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 568th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Seadrift, Texas 11 October 1921

Enlisted

Houston, TX 25 November 1940

Other

Prisoner of War (POW)

Gneixendorf, Austria 20 October 1943 - 1 May 1945 Stalag 17b (dates are approximate)

Died

27 December 1951

Buried

Pearland, TX 31 December 1951 South Park Cemetery Pearland, Brazoria County, Texas, USA
Houston, TX 1614 Milby Street

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added a "-" to the A/C serial number in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity & consistency.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 861 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database