William Joseph Lewandowski was born on February 28, 1918, in Lyndhurst, Bergen County, New Jersey. He was the son of Walenty Lewandowski and Stella Lewandowski. He was married to Leokadia "Lottie" Witkiewicz Lewandowski. He served in the 603rd Bomber Squadron, 398th Bomb Group, Heavy, as a Second Lieutenant and Co-Pilot of B-17 #43-37825 during World War II.

On March 14, 1945, the aircraft was part of a bombing mission targeting Osnabrück, Germany. During the mission, it was struck by anti-aircraft flak in the number three engine. The damage caused the aircraft to descend and eventually explode mid-air, crashing near Icker, north of Osnabrück. Five crew members were Killed in Action, while the remaining four survived and were taken as prisoners of war.

2Lt Lewandowski was Killed in Action and is now buried in the Ardennes American Cemetery and Memorial, Neuville-en-Condroz, Arrondissement de Liège, Liège, Belgium. William J. Lewandowski's name is inscribed on the Anstey Window Memorial in Panel 1 (left), on Butterfly 1, in the bottom left wing (section C).

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