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Personal info

Full name
HAGER, William Henry
Date of birth
1 October 1920
Age
23
Place of birth
Hardtner, Barber County, Kansas
Hometown
Alva, Woods County, Oklahoma

Military service

Service number
38269274
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
Ball Turret Gunner
Unit
563rd Bombardment Squadron,
388th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
4 February 1944
Place of death
Mondorf-Niederkassel, 3 miles north of Bonn, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Plot Row Grave
I 9 17

Immediate family

Members
Ira A. Hager (father)
Bertha M. (Fish) Hager (mother)
Alice B. (Palmer) Hager (stepmother)
Leta N. Hager (sister)
Everett M. Hager (brother)
Irma A. Hager (sister)
Wayne E. Hager (half-brother)
Waller I. Hager (half-brother)
Betty L. Hager (half-sister)
Ida L. (Gray) Hagner (wife)
Earlene I. Hagner (daughter)

Plane data

Serial number
42-31781
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Cock of the Walk
Destination: Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the railroad yards
MACR: 2350

More information

S/Sgt William H. Hager attended Alva High school.
He enlisted on 17 September 1942 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Lt. DeJean, in A/C 42-31781, received a direct hit of flak on the right wing just before bombs away causing the right aileron and stabilizer to be blown off. The plane flipped on its back and went down with right wing in flame and disappeared in the clouds at 16,000 feet.

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, WWII Draft Card, 1940 US Census

Photo source: Peter Schouteten