William Franklin Cely
Military
Find A Grave Memorial# 66717112
Object Number - UPL 19296 - 1st Lt William F Cely, 94th Bomb Group
Missions: 1943 - Nov 11 Muenster; 19 Gelsenkirchen/Rohr; 26 Paris; 29 Bremen 30 Solingen; Dec 5 Bordeaux; 11 Emden; 13 Kiel; 16 Bremen; 24 Crossbow; 30 Ludwigshaven; 31 Brodeaux; 1944 - Jan 11 Brunswick; 29 Frankfurt; Feb 3 Wilhelmshaven; 4 Frankfurt; 6 St. Andre; 10 Brunswick; 13 Crossbow; 24 Tutow/Rostock; 25 Regensburg; 28 Crossbow; 29 Brunswick; Mar 3 Germany 8 Berlin/Erkner. Plane - B-17G 42-39775 'Frenesi' (Copy of the poem 'Incident' by Edgar A. Guest, to honor Wm F. Cely) see lib ref drawer) This is the pilot of 'Papa's gonna take you home' fame based on his heroic effort to get the plane Frenesi back to the base after their 13th mission, on 11 January 1944.
Silver Star/ DFC/ Air Medal w/ 3 Oak Leaf Cluster/ Presidential Unit Citation/ American Defense Service Medal/ WW II Theater Ribbons/ Air Force Longevity Service Award
Connections
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Units served with
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 94th Bomb Group 333rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 14151348
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: waist gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 94th Bomb Group 333rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-687511
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 94th Bomb Group 333rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 14122167
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 94th Bomb Group 333rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 35510156
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 94th Bomb Group 333rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 14141516
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
Aircraft
Missions
Places
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Palestine, Texas | 24 February 1916 | |
|
Enlisted |
Houston, TX | 29 September 1941 | Houston, Texas |
|
Other Commissioned |
12 April 1943 | ||
|
Died |
Tucson, AZ, USA | 28 March 1992 | |
|
Buried |
30 March 1992 | Arlington National Cemetery Arlington Virginia, USA Plot: Section 3-N, Row 23, Site 6 | |
|
Based |
Bury St Edmunds | Assigned to 333BS, 94BG, 8AF USAAF. |
Revisions
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 12969, widow, Mrs. William F. (Ruth R.) Cely, Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces