Golden William F.

Monuments

437th Troop Carrier Group Plaques

C-47 42-100801 and 42-108884 Crash Monument

Name:

William F. Golden

Rank:

Staff Sergeant

Serial Number:

12185679

Unit:

83rd Troop Squadron, 437th Troop Carrier Group

Date of Death:

1944-09-17

State:

Cemetery:

Zachary Taylor National Cemetery, Kentucky

Plot:

Row:

Grave:

13-14

Decoration:

Comments:

William F. Golden was born on March 12, 1923 in New York. Prior to his enlistment in the Army Air Corps on November 13, 1942, in New York City, William was a high school graduate who worked as a Clerk in a Financial Institution. He resided at that time in Nassau County, New York, and, at the time of his enlistment, was single.

William served in the 83rd Troop Squadron, 437th Troop Carrier Group as a Staff Sergeant and Radio Operator of the C-47 #42-100801 "Picadilly Filly" during World War II. On September 17, 1944, the C-47 was towing a glider during Operation Market Garden en route to Eindhoven, Netherlands when the no. 2 engine was hit by flak. The glider was released and the C-47 crashed out of control killing all four crew members. SSGT Golden is buried in the Zachary Taylor National Cemetery, Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky, USA. Together in the same grave are 1LT Gilmore, SSGT Golden, 1LT Peterson, SSGT Rice, and 2LT Thomas.

Crew of C-47 #42-100801 "Picadilly Filly":
Charles Gilmore - Pilot
Robert Thomas - Co-Pilot
William Golden - Radio Operator
Guy Difalco - Flight Engineer

Source of information: www.abmc.gov, www.americanairmuseum.com