Brooks William J.

Name:

William J. Brooks

Rank:

Second Lieutenant

Serial Number:

O-679987

Unit:

708th Bomber Squadron, 447th Bomber Group, Heavy

Date of Death:

1944-01-05

State:

Illinois

Cemetery:

Rhone American Cemetery and Memorial, France

Plot:

B

Row:

11

Grave:

3

Decoration:

Purple Heart

Comments:

William J. Brooks was born in 1922 in Chicago, Illinois. He was the son of William John Brooks and Mary Elizabeth Moorshead Brooks.

William J. served in the 708th Bomber Squadron, 447th Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Second Lieutenant and Co-Pilot on the B-17 #42-37872 during World War II.

On January 5, 1944, his crew took off from Station 126 airfield in Rattlesden, England, at 02:00H for a mission to bomb the Bordeaux-Merignac aerodrome. Hit by flak or an enemy aircraft, their plane crashed in the Arcachon Bay at the Port of Mole in Gujan-Mestras, France. The aircraft was partially evacuated by three members of the crew, who then survived. Those who were unable to leave the plane were killed in this incident, including 2Lt Brooks.

2Lt Brooks is now buried in the Rhone American Cemetery and Memorial, France.

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