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name
BALDWIN, William Lester Jr - Date of
birth
23 May 1923 -
Age
21 - Place of
birth
Pensacola, Escambia County, Florida -
Hometown
Baltimore, Maryland
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-718989 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Navigator -
Unit
578th Bombardment Squadron,
392nd Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
4 November 1944 - Place of
death
2 km north of Misburg, 8 km east of Hannover, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten - Walls of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
William L. Baldwin (father)
Irene C.F. Baldwin (mother)
Samuel Baldwin (brother)
Richard Baldwin (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-95293 -
Data
Type: B-24H
Nickname: American Beauty
Destination: Misburg, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the oil refinery
MACR: 10350
More information
William Baldwin attended college.He joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve in Baltimore, Maryland on 14 December 1942.
The aircraft was hit by flak over the target what caused a fire in #2 engine.
Four crew members were taken prisoner, five men were killed. They were initially buried at the military cemetery of Hannover-Limmer, Germany.
2nd Lt Baldwin’s name is also listed on the Remington-Wyman World War II Memorial located at Wyman Park Drive and San Martin Drive in Baltimore.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.B24.net, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.ancestry.com - 1940 Census / U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, www.findagrave.com - Erick Nelson, Arie-Jan van Hees, Navigator Class book 44-05, San Marcos, Texas.