Willard Henry Van Eyck
Military
Object Number - UPL 46619 - Flight Officer Willard H. VanEyck, 77th Troop Carrier Squadron, KIA 24 March 1945
On the morning of March 24, 1945, the 435th took off from the French airfield at Brétigny, located south of Paris, for a double glider tow mission to the Wesel area. This was one of the Serials in Operation Varsity, the Rhine crossing near Wesel. Upon reaching the LZ, the glider, piloted by FO Van Eyck, was cut loose with the other gliders, flying through the German anti-aircraft and small arms fire to find a landing spot. It never made a proper landing and both pilots died when the glider crashed in a patch of woods. FO Van Eyck is buried in the Netherlands American Cemetery, Margraten, Netherlands.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
- Type Category: Troop Carrier
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 435th Troop Carrier Group 77th Troop Carrier Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-2062823
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Glider Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: CG-4A Haig
- Unit: 434th Troop Carrier Group
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Brétigny-sur-Orge
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
31 May 1917 | Holland, Ottawa County, Michigan | |
|
Enlisted |
28 January 1942 | Detroit, Michigan | |
|
Died |
24 March 1945 | over Germany |
Revisions
NARA files verified ASN upon entry. He earned the ADSM based on entry date, the ACM after that and the EAME Campaign Medal with at least one bronze service star on the EAME Campaign Medal for overseas service.
Find a Grave data - shows he was buried overseas. Michigan marker appears to be IMO marker.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56304781/willard-henry-vaneyck
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/102084889/willard-henry-van_eyck
https://www.ww2gp.org/bio-file/bioFile.php?getveteran=5324 and GENERAL ORDER # 71, IX Troop Carrier Command dated 18 May 1945: From Headquarters IX GROUP CARRIER COMMAND by Major General Williams.
