Ernest Harold Williams was born on September 7, 1920, in Anadarko, Caddo County, Oklahoma. He was the son of Melvin Stingley and Ethel Tella Mathews Newman. He was married to Lillie Drake Williams Holtke. He was a graduate of Altus High School and had attended Oklahoma Baptist University for one year before continuing his studies at Baylor University. He entered military service on February 4, 1943, shortly before his graduation. He served in the 20th Bombardment Squadron, 2nd Bombardment Group, as a Flight Officer and Pilot of B-17G #44-6440 during World War II.

On March 22, 1945, the B-17 #44-6440 was lost during a combat mission over Germany in the closing weeks of World War II. The aircraft was part of a daylight bombing operation flown by the Fifteenth Air Force, which at that stage of the war was focused on disrupting remaining German transportation networks, industrial targets, and military infrastructure. During the mission, the bomber came under intense German anti-aircraft fire. Critically damaged and unable to maintain formation, the aircraft attempted to break away but ultimately crashed near the town of Großräschen, in present-day Brandenburg, Germany. The crash claimed the lives of nine crew members, all of whom were killed when the aircraft went down, leaving no known survivors.

FO Williams is now buried in the Altus Cemetery, Altus, Jackson County, Oklahoma, USA.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, U.S. Army Air Forces Missing Air Crew Reports (MACR)