25Feb1920 – 31Jul1944
Edison Days
William graduated with Class of June 1937. He participated band, orchestra, and Vaudeville.
Military Service
Rank: Captain
Branch: United States Army Air Corps
Unit: 404th Fighter Squadron – 371st Fighter Group – 9th Air Force
Thank you to Lt. Col. Terrence G. Popravak, JR – United States Air Force (Retired) for help in outlining William’s military career. He provided photos, documents, and technical recommendations. He maintains the website https://371stfightergroup.wordpress.com which is a site dedicated to the 371st Fighter Group that William was a member of. It is an excellent site, and I recommend checking it out.
William enlisted in the Army on 1Nov1941.
On 19May1942 he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant upon graduation from the advance flying school at the Gulf Coast Training Center at Randolph Field, TX.
William was promoted to Lieutenant on 13Sep1943.
William was eventually assigned to the 404th Fighter-Bomber Group. The 404th moved to England, Mar-Apr 1944. Assigned to Ninth AF and redesignated 404th Fighter Squadron they became operational on 1May1944.
Throughout the month of May the 404th flew missions over France to bomb German military targets. They also flew some bomber escort missions. On 6June1944, D-Day, the 404th was the first squadron from their group to fly in support of the Allied invasion of France.
On 17Jun1944 the 404th along with the rest of their squadron relocated to an airfield called ALG A-6 near Beuzeville-au-Plain, France. The 5,000 foot runway had been constructed in only 8 days.
On 18Jun1944 the 404th had their greatest action to date.
Poor flying conditions limited the number of sorties flown by the 404th in late June and early July, but weather permitting, William and the 404th continued to fly reconnaissance patrols and strike targets of opportunity.
There is no evidence that William shot down a German plane in aerial combat, he did nearly shoot down another plane in his squadron in an incident that was considered a “lighter moment” in the dangerous missions he was flying regularly.
On 31July1944 William was leading a flight of 4 planes on an armed reconnaissance mission over enemy held territory near Mortain, France. William discovered some German equipment and vehicles. William called out the enemy to the others and initiated a dive-bombing run on the enemy positions. The number 3 plane in the flight witnessed William’s bombs explode. The force of the explosions flipped William’s plane upside down. The plane recovered and then immediately flipped over again, crashed into the ground, exploded, and burned. William was killed in the crash. This was his 117th sortie and 78th mission.
Even though he was killed in the crash. He was originally reported as missing in action.
It was nearly 3 months before his family was informed of his death.
William’s remains were returned to the United States for reburial in 1948. He is buried at Brooklyn-Crystal Cemetery in Brooklyn Park, MN.
William was a highly decorated pilot. Among his awards was the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC). This list is all the members of the 404th Fighter Squadron who won the award.
The Distinguished Flying Cross medal is awarded to any officer or enlisted person of the armed forces of the United States for heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight. The heroism or achievement must be entirely distinctive, involving operations that are not routine. It is not awarded for sustained operational activities and flights. The DFC is the fourth highest award for heroism and the highest award for extraordinary aerial achievement.
Edison Heroes 