William Henry Hager was born on October 1, 1920 in Hardtner, Barber County, Kansas. He served in the 563rd Bomber Squadron, 388th Bomber Group, Heavy as a Staff Sergeant and waist gunner of #42-31781 aircraft during World War II. William was Killed in Action when the aircraft received a direct hit of flak on the right wing just before bombs away causing the right aileron and stabilizer to be blown off. The plane flipped on its back and went down with right wing in flame and disappeared in the clouds at 16,000 feet. Ssgt Hager is now buried in the Netherlands American Cemetery, Margraten, Netherlands. He was one of the many brave Americans of the 388th Bomber Group who lost their lives in aerial operations against the German forces from June 1943 - August 1945.
Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.abmc.gov, www.fieldsofhonor-database.com