William Joseph Wilson was born on January 29, 1924, in Iowa. He was the son of Kenneth and Josephine Wilson. He served in the 603rd Bomber Squadron, 398th Bomb Group, Heavy, as a Staff Sergeant and Tail Gunner of B-17 #42-102508 during World War II.

On July 7, 1944, during a bombing mission over Leipzig, Germany. The aircraft was hit by intense anti-aircraft fire (flak), and the bomber exploded mid-air over Liebschwitz near Gera. Debris and crew were scattered across the area, and the wreckage fell into a nearby river by the Liebschwitz railroad. Of these, seven crew members survived and were taken as prisoners of war. Notably, Ball Turret Gunner Robins was ejected from the aircraft by the explosion and remained unconscious for a week in a German hospital, while two crew members were Killed in Action.

SSgt Wilson was Killed in Action and is now buried in the Graceland Cemetery, Knoxville, Marion County, Iowa, USA. William J. Wilson’s name is inscribed on the Anstey Window Memorial in Panel 1 (left), on Butterfly 4, in the top right wing (section B).

Source of information: www.americanairmuseum.com, b17flyingfortress.de, www.398th.org