William Charles Hege entered the military service in Pennsylvania. He served in the 561st Bomber Squadron, 388th Bomber Group, Heavy as a Sergeant and tail gunner of #42-107061 "Peg o' My Heart" aircraft during World War II. A member of the Pickett crew, he was killed when their plane crashed on May 8, 1944. Their plane was shot down on the first pass of enemy fighters at 0955 hours when a 20mm shell exploded in the cockpit and the engineer was hit by a 30 caliber bullet. With #2 engine on fire, the crew bailed out and the plane crashed with a full bomb load S.E. of Bremen. Sgt Hege is now buried in the Ardennes American Cemetery, Neupré, Belgium. 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