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Submit- Full
name
BULL, Webster Merrifield - Date of
birth
30 December 1914 -
Age
28 - Place of
birth
Minnesota -
Hometown
Douglas County, Nebraska
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-745609 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Pilot -
Unit
563rd Bombardment Squadron,
388th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
22 December 1943 - Place of
death
IJsselmeer, near Enkhuizen, the Netherlands
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| D | 19 | 2 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Daniel F. Bull (father)
Rosemond E. (Leland) Bull (mother)
Rosemond E. Bull (sister)
David F. Bull (brother)
Katharine (Price) Bull (wife)
Daniel F. W. Bull IV (son)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-37773 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Full House
Destination: Munster, Germany
MACR: 3148
More information
Webster M. Bull graduated from Yale University. He was commissioned in May 1943.S/Sgt Riley's aircraft was piloted by 2nd Lt. Webster M. Bull. Their B-17 (shown during a raid in the photo on the right) was last seen dropping behind the formation about 5 to 10 minutes after dropping its bombs on the target. Their #1 engine was feathered and the aircraft was seen being escorted by P-47s over Holland as it lost altitude and fell into the overcast.
According to the casualty questionnaire filled out by Tail Gunner S/Sgt Thomas G. Wesson, Jr., the crew attempted to lighten the aircraft by throwing all loose equipment overboard. Somewhere over Holland, Lt Bull ordered everyone to jump. It appears that only S/Sgt Wesson, and Waist Gunner S/Sgt John F. Rogowski managed to jump from the aircraft. All other crew members died with the aircraft. S/Sgt Wesson last reports seeing S/Sgt Riley as he helped Riley on with his chute.
Apparently the B-17 crashed into the IJsselmeer River near Enkhuizen, the Netherlands on 22 December 1943.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Terry Hirsch, Astrid van Erp, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.388bg.org, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record, http://mssa.library.yale.edu - Yale University Alumni, www.newspapers.com - The Minneapolis Star
Photo source: Jac Engels, www.newspapers.com - The Minneapolis Star