Billy Bruce Freeman was born on February 4, 1920 in Cincinnati, Ohio. He served in the 327th Bomber Squadron, 92nd Bomber Group, Heavy as a Technical Sergeant and Radio Operator of the B-17 #42-3048 "Sharon Belle" during World War II. His plane exploded near Astwell Castle on November 30, 1943 while aloft for a mission to Solingen, Germany that was scrubbed due to weather. All members of the crew were killed and the cause of explosion was never determined. TSGT Freeman is now buried in the Zachary Taylor National Cemetery, Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky, USA.
Crew members:
Captain Richard W. Pugh - co pilot
1st Lt. William M. Holland - pilot
F/O. Leighton D. Paterson - navigator
2nd Lt. William S. Munro - bombardier
T/Sgt. Thomas D. Glaspell - engineer
T/Sgt. Billy B. Freeman - radio operator
S/Sgt. Dean Landfear - waist gunner
S/Sgt. Charles E. Slayton - waist gunner
S/Sgt. Henry A. Scott - ball turret gunner
S/Sgt. Henry P. Brannan - tail gunner