William L Brown
MilitaryImage courtesy of Robert Nathan Smith, via American Air Museum Memory Book Correspondence.
Flew in B-26 #42-96199. Shot down during mission over Chartres, Killed in Action
SSgt William L. Brown was the gunner of the B-26 Marauder 42-96199 when it took off from station 162 Chipping Ongar, Essex UK on a mission to bomb Chartres’ airfield. Around 1755, just as the plane, part of the first bombing group, was starting its run, a flak barrage scored a direct hit on the No.2 engine. The latter plummeted free of the aircraft and landed near the town church. The plane itself went into a slow dive. The pilot dropped both 900 kg bombs in order to free the bay door for a potential bail out. The rest of the group thought it to be the attack signal and dropped theirs as well. The damage caused was enormous, killing about 50 civilians and setting the town library on fire. However, only half the crew had time to don their parachutes before the aircraft plummeted to the ground and SSgt Brown died. His body was buried by the locals.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 387th Bomb Group 557th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 32438932
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 387th Bomb Group 557th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 17044975
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Mechanic
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 387th Bomb Group 557th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-26 Marauder
- Unit: 387th Bomb Group 557th Bomb Squadron
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Willingale
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Died |
Chartres, France | 26 May 1944 | Killed in Action |
Other Memorial |
Fontenay-sur-Eure, France | ||
Mississippi, USA |
Revisions
Robert Nathan Smith, via American Air Museum Memory Book correspondence.