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William H. Bradford

Co-Pilot · 409th Squadron
Hometown2534 Birdsall Street, Blue Island, Illinois, IL

2nd Lt. William H. Bradford served as co-pilot aboard B-24H 42-94991. He was believed to have been injured when the aircraft was struck by flak near Falaise on 13 August 1944.

Radio operator S/Sgt. Gallaher reported that Bradford appeared to be injured and unable to exit the aircraft on his own. It was believed that pilot Andrino remained at his station to help Bradford out, and that the engineer Hagler went to the flight deck to assist as well. Bradford did not bail out and went down with the aircraft.

He was classified as a battle casualty and reported killed in action; presumed dead as of 14 August 1945 under the Missing Persons Act. His next of kin was listed as Mr. B. L. Bradford (father), 2534 Birdsall Street, Blue Island, Illinois.

Killed in ActionPASSED 13 AUG 1944

Sortie Log

2 CATALOGUED SORTIES
13 AUG 1944 — 13 AUG 1944

The sorties below are those we have been able to document for this airman, drawn from flight logs, mission records, and archival sources. It is not necessarily a complete account of every mission flown; gaps may reflect missing documentation, transferred assignments, or records lost to time.

8AF Mission
Date
Target
Aircraft
—
13 AUG 1944
Road junctions, Falaise, France
On the mission of 13 August 1944, B-24H serial 42-94991 was flying number three position in the element directly ahead of the eyewitness aircraft. At approximately 1200 hours, a few minutes before the IP, a direct burst of flak struck near the number one engine, which likely caused the fuel tank to catch fire immediately. The fire burned through the wing section behind the number one engine. The plane banked sharply away from the formation and entered a diving turn, then went into a spin. Three parachutes were observed before the rudder broke off; at that point two or possibly three more parachutes opened, with one chute striking the falling rudder and catching fire. The plane then passed out of sight. The aircraft struck the ground a few kilometers northwest of Falaise, France, and burned completely. Six parachutes were confirmed by surviving crew members and other squadron aircraft. German captors later confirmed that only six men got out.
Flying Fool, The42-94991
—
13 AUG 1944
Road junctions, Falaise, France
On the mission of 13 August 1944, B-24H serial 42-94991 was flying number three position in the element directly ahead of the eyewitness aircraft. At approximately 1200 hours, a few minutes before the IP, a direct burst of flak struck near the number one engine, which likely caused the fuel tank to catch fire immediately. The fire burned through the wing section behind the number one engine. The plane banked sharply away from the formation and entered a diving turn, then went into a spin. Three parachutes were observed before the rudder broke off; at that point two or possibly three more parachutes opened, with one chute striking the falling rudder and catching fire. The plane then passed out of sight. The aircraft struck the ground a few kilometers northwest of Falaise, France, and burned completely. Six parachutes were confirmed by surviving crew members and other squadron aircraft. German captors later confirmed that only six men got out.
Flying Fool, The42-94991
§ Interment
Cemetery
Brittany American Cemetery