Willis DeWitt Boatwright
Military
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UPL 22015
The Harold Tucker Crew pictured in front of "Our Baby" in Dalhart, Texas, 1944.
Kneeling, from left : Pilot Harold H. Tucker; Copilot Robert A. Greenwood; Navigator Samuel R. Detwiler Jr; Bombardier Walter Slemensky.
Standing, from left : Engineer/Gunner Lawrence L. Witt; Radio Operator James A. Davis Jr; Ball Turret Gunner Willis D. Boatright; Top Turret Gunner Lloyd D. Stoller; Tail Gunner Jennings C. Greuter.
[ Not pictured : Waist Gunner Lavern R. Maisak ] - Picture courtesy of Laura Edge, daughter of Engineer Lawrence Witt.
Kneeling, from left : Pilot Harold H. Tucker; Copilot Robert A. Greenwood; Navigator Samuel R. Detwiler Jr; Bombardier Walter Slemensky.
Standing, from left : Engineer/Gunner Lawrence L. Witt; Radio Operator James A. Davis Jr; Ball Turret Gunner Willis D. Boatright; Top Turret Gunner Lloyd D. Stoller; Tail Gunner Jennings C. Greuter.
[ Not pictured : Waist Gunner Lavern R. Maisak ] - Picture courtesy of Laura Edge, daughter of Engineer Lawrence Witt.
Corrected position of the men in the photo
Willis Boatright was a Ball Turret Gunner in the 96th Bomb Group / 339th Bomb Squadron. Shot down 12 May 1944 in B-17 #42-107123. Prisoner of War (POW).
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 96th Bomb Group 339th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 32740208
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 96th Bomb Group 339th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 11083341 and O-709308
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 96th Bomb Group 339th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 12099172 and O-818664
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 96th Bomb Group 339th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 35545269
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 96th Bomb Group 339th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 19011806
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 96th Bomb Group 339th Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 12 May 1944
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Louisiana, United States | 10 October 1919 | |
Enlisted |
Jacksonville AAF, Florida, United States | 9 April 1941 | |
Other Prisoner of War (POW) |
12 May 1944 | Captured near Usingen, Germany, he was interned at Stalag Luft 4 in Gross Tychow/Tychowo, Poland. Moved from there, he was liberated at Stalag 7A in Moosburg, Germany. NARA WWII POW records : "returned to Military control 1 June 1945." | |
Died |
Monroe, Louisiana, United States | 30 May 2016 | |
Buried |
Mulhearn Memorial Park Cemetery, Monroe, Louisiana, United States |
Revisions
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 5359 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database