William Edward Cramsie
Military ROLL OF HONOUR
Pilot
416th BG - 671st BS - 9th AF
KIA 10 April 1944
Object Number - UPL 48797 - 1LT William Edward Cramsie Pilot 416th BG - 671st BS - 9th AF KIA 10 April 1944
William Cramsie was one of 18 members of the United States Military Academy Class of 1943 assigned directly to the 416th BG. The Class of 1943 was the most combat decorated class in the history of West Point. Cramsie was the first member of his class to die in combat.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 416th Bomb Group 671st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 32452886
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade)
- Role/Job: Aerial Gunner
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: A-20 Havoc
- Unit: 416th Bomb Group 671st Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: A-20 Havoc
- Nicknames: Desperate Ambrose
- Unit: 416th Bomb Group 671st Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: A-20 Havoc
- Unit: 416th Bomb Group 671st Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: A-20 Havoc
- Unit: 416th Bomb Group
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Marysville, CA | 31 May 1919 | |
|
Other First 416th BG Combat Mission |
Bernay, France | 4 March 1944 | |
|
Died |
near Bradwell Bay, UK | 10 April 1944 | On the morning of 10 April 1944, a cold and overcast day, 36 A-20s of the 416th Bomb Group were dispatched from Wethersfield RAF station in England. Their mission was to destroy a secret German installation hidden within the Bois des Huit Rues (Forest of the 8 streets) near Morbecque and Hazebrouck in Flanders (northern France). The flight encountered heavy flak and was forced to make three passes over the target due to cloud cover. Three aircraft were lost, with only one crew surviving. A-20G tail number 43-9699, flown by 1st Lt. William E. Cramsie with gunners SSgt Charles R. Henshaw and SSgt Jack Steward lost an engine due to flak over the target and went down in Bradwell Bay between North Foreland and Clacton on Sea. Neither the crew nor aircraft were ever located or recovered. Lt. Cramsie was a graduate of the United States Military Academy (West Point) class of June 1943, the most highly decorated class in the history of West Point. He was the first of his illustrious class to be killed in action. |
|
Other Graduated |
West Point, NY | United States Military Academy | |
|
Buried |
No Known Grave Tablets of the Missing Cambridge American Cemetery Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial Madingley Road Coton CB23 7PH Cambridge United Kingdom |
Revisions
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Contributor466thHistorian
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