

WILLIAMS, William J
Name: William J WILLIAMS
Born 7 September 1920
Age at arrival in Buchenwald: 23
Birthplace: Oaktown, Indiana
Died 22 November 2007 in Titusville, Florida, age 87
Service: USAAF
Service ID: 35721866
Service Rank: Staff Sergeant
Duties: Gunner
Air Group: 8th Air Force, 385th Bomb Group, 549th Bomb Squadron
Airbase: Great Ashfield, Suffolk UK
Aircraft: B-17F 42-30354
Date shot down: 29 January 1944
Fate of crew: 1 KIA, 9 evaded, 6 recaptured, 4 of them sent to Buchenwald (Williams, POWELL, REYNOLDS, and PACHA.
Evasion summary: Stayed in Recquignies (Nord) after they left Belgium. Then went to Pacy sur Eure, where they stayed with M Poulailler. Mr Gresser gave them to Letonsorer, who gave them to Desoubrie.
Date captured: 3 August 1944
Capture summary:
Boxcar Transport: 15-20 August 1944, in boxcar #1 or #2
Buchenwald ID: 78294
Notes on Buchenwald internment:
Transferred from Buchenwald to: Stalag Luft III, South Compound
Kriege ID: 8197
Notes on SLIII internment:
Subsequent transfer to: Stalag VIIA, Moosburg, by train from Spremberg after forced winter march, 27-30 January, arriving 4 February 1945.
Notes on SVIIA internment:
Liberation: 29 April 1945 by Patton’s Third Army
Repatriation from ETO:
Discharged:
VA status:
Notes on Post-War period: