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Personal info

Full name
WICKENS, Bill
Date of birth
3 June 1920
Age
24
Place of birth
South Bend, St. Joseph County, Indiana
Hometown
St. Joseph County, Indiana

Military service

Service number
35255387
Rank
Technical Sergeant
Function
Engineer
Unit
600th Bombardment Squadron,
398th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
8 April 1945
Place of death
Near Stendal, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Plot Row Grave
O 22 15

Immediate family

Members
Charles P. Wickens (father)
Hattie (Jablonska) Wickens (mother)
Irene A. Wickens (sister)

Plane data

Serial number
44-83276
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Derben, Germany
Mission: Operational Bombing
MACR: 13914

More information

T/Sgt Bill Wickens enlisted at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana on 3 February 1942.

The Missing Aircrew Report states:
"The aircraft was last seen at 50 degrees 45 minutes North, 12 degrees 5 minutes East about three minutes after bombs away over the target at Derben, Germany. The plane was hit by anti-aircraft fire, badly damaging the left wing. According to S/Sgt Harry J. Dover, who witnessed the hit "The ship went into a spin at 4 o'clock and then exploded before it hit the ground." One eye-witness reported that the Ball Turret Gunner stated over the interphone that one parachutes was seen leaving the ship, although the other witness stated they hadn't seen any of the crew. Sgt Robert A. Templeton has returned to duty, then rest of the crew have been reported killed in action."

Source of information: Michel Beckers, Terry Hirsch, Gerrie Franken, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.footnote.com, www.archives.gov - WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / 1930/1940 Census / WWII Draft Card

Photo source: Nico Leers, Gerrie Franken (SOHE), J.P. Wyers, www.findagrave.com - Jennifer Jackson (Fox)