Thompson William J.

Name:

William J. Thompson

Rank:

Sergeant

Serial Number:

18064916

Unit:

341st Bombardment Squadron, 97th Bomber Group

Date of Death:

1942-10-21

State:

Oklahoma

Cemetery:

Brittany American Cemetery, Montjoie Saint Martin, France

Plot:

I

Row:

8

Grave:

12

Decoration:

Air Medal, Purple Heart

Comments:

William J. Thompson served in the 341st Bomber Squadron, 97th Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Sergeant and Left Waist Gunner on the B-17 #41-24344 'The Big Bitch' during World War II.

Sgt Thompson was killed when his airplane crashed in Saint-Vougay, France. On October 21, 1942, his crew took off from Station 110 airfield in Polebrook, England, for a bombing attack in Lorient, France. Upon arrival over the target, their plane was shot down by an Fw190 piloted by Armind Landman and exploded. Among the ten crew members, only two were able to survive. The others, including Sgt Thompson, were killed in the incident.

The bodies of those who were killed were initially buried in the cemetery of Plouescat before being transferred. Sgt Thompson is now buried in the Brittany American Cemetery, Montjoie Saint Martin, France.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.abmc.gov, francecrashes39-45.net