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Pavlovsky William Lawrence

Name:
William Lawrence  Pavlovsky
Rank:
Second Lieutenant
Serial Number:
O-760381
Unit:
401st Fighter Squadron, 370th Fighter Group
Date of Death:
1944-07-14
State:
California
Cemetery:
Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial, Colleville-sur-Mer, Departement du Calvados, Basse-Normandie, France
Plot:
B
Row:
11
Grave:
28
Decoration:
Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart
Comments:

William Lawrence Pavlovsky was born on November 16, 1919, in Adairsville, Bartow County, Georgia. He is a graduate of South Gate High School. He is also a former master counselor of Guardian Chapter, order of Demolay of South Gate.

Pavlovsky served in the 401st Fighter Squadron, 370th Fighter Group as a Second Lieutenant and pilot of P-38 Lightning #43-28706 during World War II. On July 14, 1944, 2Lt Pavlovsky took off from Station 406 in Andover, Hampshire, England, on a mission to destroy the Besnault viaduct, in the Courtineau valley, where German wagons were running on the Paris-Bordeaux railway line. Shot down by flak at 14h:20, Pavlovsky parachuted but, being too low, his canopy did not have time to open. He went through the roof of a barn before dying, at a place called La Jugeraie. He was buried at Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial, Colleville-sur-Mer, Departement du Calvados, Basse-Normandie, France. He was awarded the Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters and a Purple Heart. Source of information: www.francebleu.fr, www.lanouvellerepublique.fr