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name
BAXENDALE, William Richard "Bill" - Date of
birth
28 October 1921 -
Age
22 - Place of
birth
St. Louis City, St. Louis County, Missouri -
Hometown
University City, St. Louis County, Missouri
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-751716 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Co-Pilot -
Unit
749th Bombardment Squadron,
457th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
25 February 1944 - Place of
death
Near Ilbesheim, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Lorraine
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| E | 5 | 10 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Frank W. Baxendale (father)
Jeanette M. (Powers) Baxendale (mother)
Constance J. Baxendale (sister)
Patricia J. Baxendale (sister)
Francis D. Baxendale (brother)
Suzanne J. (Riggs) Baxendale (wife)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-97457 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Straight Shot
Destination: Augsburg, Germany
Mission: Objective Bombing
MACR: 2918
More information
2nd Lt William R. Baxendale attended Washington and St. Louis University’s before he joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve in St. Louis, Missouri on 12 June 1942. he was sent overseas since January 1944.The plane shot down by fighters and crashed in a vineyard near Birkweiler, Germany.
He jumped on Lt Cooke’s back and carried him to the door and jumped with him, as Cooke stated he had on his own parachute but could not move from loss of strength by a wound or lack of oxygen. Cooke opened his own parachute and Baxendale slid off but never opened his as he never regained consciousness before he got to the ground.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men / Baxendale Gallagher Family Tree, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.findagrave.com - J.C. Clark, www.newspapers.com - St. Louis Post Dispatch St. Louis Missouri - 14 March 1944
Photo source: www.findagrave.com – Usafdo / Carolyn Deloach / Jaap Vermeer, www.newspapers.com – St. Louis Post Dispatch St. Louis Missouri - 14 March 1944, www.457thbombgroupassoc.org