George William “Billy” Hixson was born on April 6, 1918, in Hiawatha, Brown County, Kansas. He was the son of Luther William Hixson and Dessie May Schoenen.
He resided in Los Angeles County, California, prior to the war. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps on February 17, 1943, at Buckley Field, Denver, Colorado. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being employed as a mechanic and also as Single, without dependents.
George served in the 849th Bomber Squadron, 490th Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Second Lieutenant and Co-Pilot on the B-17G #43-37941 "Miss Ana Bortion" during World War II. He was Killed in Action on September 1, 1944, when his airplane collided with B17 #43-38184.
That day, his crew took off from Station 134 in Eye, Suffolk, on a group mission to Gustavburg, Germany. When the target was not visible through the overcast, their mission was aborted, and the group executed a 180-degree turn to return to base. At 11:59 AM near Anthieux-Sur-Calonne, France, while flying through the dense clouds, his plane collided with the alongside #43-38184 after crossing the French coast at 18,000 feet.
Both aircraft suffered catastrophic structural failure and crashed near Cabourg, France. Unfortunately, all members of Miss Ana Bortion's crew were killed.
2Lt Hixson is now buried in the Normandy American Cemetery, Colleville-Sur-Mer, France.
Crew members of the B-17G #43-37941 "Miss Ana Bortion":
Maj Francis Hopkins Dresser - Command Pilot
1Lt Charles S Frey - Pilot
2Lt George W Hixson - Co-Pilot
F/O Lowell Shuman - Navigator
2Lt Donald Hoeffler - Bombardier
S/Sgt Thomas H Gossett - Radio Operator/Gunner
S/Sgt Floyd G Hall - Mechanic/Gunner
Sgt Calvin Charles Pulver - Tail Gunner
Sgt Donald L Russell - Waist Gunner
Sgt Edward C Schanhaar - Ball Turret Gunner
Source of information: www.findagrave.com, francecrashes39-45.net