William Joseph Beatovich was born on February 27, 1922, in St. Louis County, Minnesota. He was the son of Jole "Joseph" Beatovich and Angela Nikolich Knezovich. He served in the 603rd Bomber Squadron, 398th Bomb Group, Heavy, as a Captain and Navigator of B-17 #44-8224 during World War II.

On January 23, 1945, during a bombing mission over Neuss, Germany, the aircraft was struck by enemy anti-aircraft fire and crashed near Heerde, the Netherlands. A direct hit to the right-wing caused it to break off, sending the aircraft into an uncontrolled descent. It was last seen entering a split-S maneuver before disappearing into the clouds. Of the ten crew members aboard, nine were killed in action, while the pilot survived and was taken as a prisoner of war.

Cpt Beatovich was among those who lost their lives in the crash and is now buried in the Ardennes American Cemetery and Memorial, Neuville-en-Condroz, Arrondissement de Liège, Liège, Belgium. William J. Beatovich's name is inscribed on the Anstey Window Memorial in Panel 3 (right), on Butterfly 26, in the bottom right wing (section D).

Source of information:www.americanairmuseum.com, www.findagrave.com, www.398th.org