Wickens Bill

Name:

Bill Wickens

Rank:

Technical Sergeant

Serial Number:

35255387

Unit:

600th Bomber Squadron, 398th Bomber Group, Heavy

Date of Death:

1945-04-08

State:

Indiana

Cemetery:

Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial, Margraten, Eijsden-Margraten Municipality, Limburg, Netherlands

Plot:

O

Row:

22

Grave:

15

Decoration:

Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart

Comments:

Bill Wickens was born on July 3, 1920, in South Bend, St. Joseph County, Indiana. He was the son of Charles Perry Wickens and Hattie Jablonska Wickens. He worked in the fabrication of metal products before enlisting in the service on February 3, 1942. He served in the 600th Bomber Squadron, 398th Bomb Group, Heavy, as a Technical Sergeant and Flight Engineer of B-17 #44-83276 during World War II.

On April 8, 1945, during a bombing mission targeting Derben, Germany, B-17 #44-83276 was struck by anti-aircraft flak. The explosions damaged engines #1 and #2, and the fuselage broke in half. The aircraft crashed near Krusemark, close to Plauen, Germany. Tragically, nine of the crew members were killed in action and only one survived.

TSgt Wickens was Killed in Action and is now buried in the Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial, Margraten, Eijsden-Margraten Municipality, Limburg, Netherlands. Bill Wickens’ name is inscribed on the Anstey Window Memorial in Panel 2 (center), on Butterfly 10, in the top right wing (section B).

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