William J Coffey Jr

Military

Killed in ACtion (KIA) in B-26C-15-MA 41-34958 'Hazard' [RG:F] 386BG/552BS while serving as Navigator/Bombardier. The aircraft was cut in half by flak in target area of Boulogne, France and crashed there. 386th BG was part of the 8th BG from July-October 1943.

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

Lieutenant James T. Wilson and Lieutenant Robert J. Owen of the 386th Bomb Group in the cockpit of their B-26 Marauder. Image stamped on reverse: 'Not to be published.' [stamp], 'Ministry of Information 19 Aug 1943.' [stamp] nand '279545.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'AT THE US MARAUDERS BASE. The B-26 Marauders, American super medium bombers are operating now from bases in Britain. This series of pictures shows various scenes at the airfield where the ground crew and the fliers work together
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Ninth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-26 Marauder
  • Nicknames: Hazard
  • Unit: 386th Bomb Group 552nd Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Killed in Action (KIA)

Boulogne-sur-Mer, France 9 September 1943 Killed when aircraft took a direct hit from anti-aircraft fire and crashed at the target of Boulogne, France.

Buried

Buried in the Normandy American Cemetery, Plot D, Row 10, Grave 41.

Revisions

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 4-Jun-2015. Added decorations and Burial event per American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) records; Added SN and KIA event per MACR 15266; Made connections to Place, AIrcraft and Mission within existing website data; Edited Summary biograpy adding call sign, unit association and crew position.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 15266,Combat Chronology Supplement p. 548, Losses of the 8th and 9th AFs by Bishop and Hey p. 279.