William Francis Stein was born on January 22, 1918, in Naugatuck, New Haven County, Connecticut. He was the son of Michael J. Stein and Agnes J. Matakaitis. He served in the 328th Bomber Squadron, 93rd Bomber Group, Heavy, as a First Lieutenant and Pilot of B-24D #41-23711 nicknamed ''Jerks Natural'' during World War II.
On October 1, 1943, the B-24D “Jerk’s Natural” was returning from a bombing mission over Wiener Neustadt, Austria, when it fell behind its formation and was attacked by German fighters. The aircraft was heavily damaged, entered a spin, and crashed into the mountains northeast of Graz, near Heilbrunn and Brandlucken in the Austrian region of Styria. Nine of the ten crew members were killed in the crash, with only the navigator surviving and taken as a prisoner of war.
1Lt Stein was Killed in Action and is now buried in the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, Lemay Township, St. Louis County, Missouri, USA.Source of information: www.flickr.com, www.americanairmuseum.com
PRIVATE CITIZENS SUPPORTING AMERICA'S HERITAGE
American
War Memorials Overseas, Inc.
War Memorials Overseas, Inc.
Stein William Francis
Name:
William Francis Stein
Rank:
First Lieutenant
Serial Number:
Unit:
328th Bomber Squadron, 93rd Bomber Group, Heavy
Date of Death:
1943-10-01
State:
Connecticut
Cemetery:
Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, Lemay Township, St. Louis County, Missouri, USA
Plot:
Section 82
Row:
Grave:
Site 7B
Decoration:
Air Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross, Purple Heart
Comments: