William F Neel
Military ROLL OF HONOUR
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FRE 270
Three pilots (in the boots) of the 82nd Fighter Squadron, 78th Fighter Group, stand around a jeep at Duxford air base with other officers. They are Flight Officer Manuel S. Martinez (left of vehicle), Second Lieutenant William F. Neel and First Lieutenant Jack J. Bernhard (in the white scarf). 1943-1945. 290473 Printed caption attached to the reverse: "Thunderbolts - the ""Guardian Angels"" of Flying Fortresses. Here are pictures of Thunderbolts - P-47s, the famous American fighter planes, which escort Flying Fortresses on their daylight missions over Occupied Europe.' Photo Shows: Start of a mission to Germany. Thunderbolt pilots pile into their command car and get set for a short ride out to their dispersal areas. Just a few minutes after this photo was snapped, they got into their ships and left English soil on a bomber escort mission over Germany . On the left (with helmet and dark jacket) is Flight Officer Manuel S. Martinez, Mount Kisco, N.Y., flier who shot down a Jerry on September 27th. On his left is Second Lieutenant William F. Neel, Charlotte N.C., and (wearing white scarf in front), First Lieutenant Jack J. Bernhard, 160 Central Park Sq., New York City.
Roger Freeman Collection
Caption update
Killed in Action (KIA) 24 or 26 January 1944 in P-47D #42-22467. crashed into channel
DFC/ AM w/ 3 Oak Leaf Cluster/ PH
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
- Unit: 78th Fighter Group 82nd Fighter Squadron
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
North Carolina | ||
Buried |
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Other Killed in Action (KIA) |
|||
Other Killed in Action (KIA) |
France | 24 January 1944 | |
Other Promoted |
Revisions
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources
ABMC, MACR 2113 / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 2113 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database / Ted Damick, VIII Fighter Command pilots list