William Mills Bryan was born on November 11, 1917, in Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio. He was married to Lucy Jane Speirs White. He served in the 603rd Bomber Squadron, 398th Bomb Group, Heavy, as a Second Lieutenant and Co-Pilot of B-17 #43-38147 nicknamed ''Fuddy Duddy'' during World War II.

On November 21, 1944, the aircraft was shot down during a mission over Merseburg, Germany. Operating from Nuthampstead, England, the aircraft was heavily damaged by German fighters. Pilot 1st Lt. Charles E. Howell and co-pilot 2nd Lt. William M. Bryan kept the aircraft stable long enough for three crew members to bail out. The plane crashed near Trügleben, Germany. Seven crew members were killed, and the three survivors were taken as prisoners of war.

2Lt Bryan was among those who lost their lives in the crash and is now buried in the Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial, Margraten, Eijsden-Margraten Municipality, Limburg, Netherlands. William M. Bryan's name is inscribed on the Anstey Window Memorial in Panel 3 (right), on Butterfly 26, in the top right wing (section B).

Source of information: B-17flyingfortress.de, www.398th.org