In Memory
T/Sgt. Bill Wickens
Bill served as a Technical Sergeant and Engineer / Top Turret Gunner on B-17G #44-83276, 600th Bomber Squadron, 398th Bomber Group, Heavy, U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II.
He resided in St. Joseph County, Indiana prior to the war.
He enlisted in the Army on February 3, 1942 at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being employed in the fabrication of metal products and also as Single, without dependents.
B-17G #44-83276 took off, with a crew of 10, from England on a bombing mission over Derben, Germany. While over the target they were hit by ground anti-aircraft fire causing the left wing to be badly damaged. B-17G #44-83276 went into a spin and soon broke in half and crashed near Stindal, Germany. Only " 1 " crew member survived and became a POW.
Bill was "Killed In Action" in this crash during the war.
He was awarded the Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters and the Purple Heart.
Service # 35255387
( Bio by: Russ Pickett )
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Airmen who perished on B-17G #44-83276:
Clark, Thomas A. ~ 1st Lt, Co-Pilot, MA
Coleman, Lamar Q. ~ Sgt, Ball Turret Gunner, LA
Hamilton, Marion B. ~ S/Sgt, Radio Operator, NC
Klein, Sherman S. ~ S/Sgt, Radar Operator, MD
Lescale, Clement A. ~ S/Sgt, Bombardier, LA
Munroe, George C., Jr. ~ 2nd Lt, Navigator, NJ
Roush, Jack E. ~ Sgt, Tail Gunner, OH
Wells, William E., Jr. ~ 1st Lt, Pilot, WV
Wickens, Bill ~ T/Sgt, Engineer, IN
Sources: Ancestry.com and FindAGrave.com
07/27/2024 EJS
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