William Thomas Butters was born on March 9, 1920, in Mount Pleasant, Allegan County, Michigan. He was the son of William T. Butters and Cleo A. Butters. He was married to Leone Annette Schavey Turner. He served in the 603rd Bomber Squadron, 398th Bomb Group, Heavy, as a Second Lieutenant and Tail Gunner 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.

2Lt Butters was among those who lost their lives in the crash and is now buried in the Evergreen Cemetery, Lansing, Ingham County, Michigan, USA. William T. Butters' 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: www.findagrave.com, www.americanairmuseum.com, www.398th.org