William J. Cunningham was born in 1919 in New York. He resided in Erie County, New York prior to the war. He enlisted in the Army on January 16, 1942 in Buffalo, New York. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being employed as a Machinist and also as Single, without dependents.
William served as a First Lieutenant and Pilot on B-17F "Beautiful Baby" #42-30314, 353rd Bomber Squadron, 301st Bomber Group, Heavy, U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II. B-17F #42-30314 took off from Oudna, Tunesia, with a crew of 9, on a bombing mission over airfields around Istres-Le Tubé Air Base, Marseille, France. They took two direct hits of flak to the bomb bay around 1400 hours and ended up crashing near Marseille. Six of the crew perished and three became POWs of the German Army.
William was killed in this crash. He is now buried in the Rhone American Cemetery and Memorial, France.
B-17F "Beautiful Baby" #42-30314 crew:
Barnett, Samuel L. ~ T/Sgt, Engineer
Cunningham, William J. ~ 1st Lt, Pilot
Howard, Lewis E. ~ Capt, Co-Pilot
Michael, Robert L. ~ 2nd Lt, Navigator
Miller, Milton W., Jr. ~ 2nd Lt, Bombardier
Smith, Sebastian C. ~ S/Sgt, Ball Turret Gunner
Jacobson, Harold J. ~ Radio Operator, POW
Roberts, Alvin W. ~ Wing Gunner, POW
Van Bures, Clyde E. ~ Tail Gunner, POW
Source of information: www.findagrave.com