William Milliken was born at Olean, Cattaraugus County, New York on October 7, 1912, and resided in Erie County, Pennsylvania. His parents were William J. Milliken (1890 – 1955) and Bessie E. Milliken (1893 – 1985). He had a brother, Thomas Leonard Milliken (1914 – 1987). In 1940 William and his parents lived on Norcross Road in Belle Valley, Pennsylvania (now part of Erie, Pennsylvania), where his father was an inspector at a refrigeration plant.
He completed one year of college, and worked as a laborer at a refrigeration plant. He was single, without dependents, when he enlisted in the U.S. Army at Erie, Pennsylvania on March 10, 1943. He entered active duty on March 17, 1943.
During World War II he served as a ground crewman in the 487th Bomb Group. This Group was based at U.S. Army Air Forces Station 137 near Lavenham, Suffolk, England, and was part of the 8th U.S. Army Air Force in Europe. On July 20, 1944 he rode as a passenger with the crew of Lt David L. Ozbolt aboard B-24H 42-51197, during a practice bombing mission near Lavenham. After dropping practice bombs at Ducks Hall bombing range, the aircraft collided with another 487th Bomb Group aircraft, B-17G 43-37840, that was also on a training flight. The B-24 spun in and crashed near Cavendish, England. Sgt Milliken and four other men aboard the B-24 were killed in the crash.
The pilot of the B-17, Lt Stults, his left wing on fire, attempted to reach Lavenham Airfield but crashed in a wheat field near the base Officers Club. Five men aboard the B-17 perished.
Sgt Milliken was buried initially at Cambridge American Cemetery near Madingley, England. After the war his remains were returned to the United States and reinterred at Calvary Cemetery in Erie, Pennsylvania.
B-24H 42-51197 crew:
• Ozbolt, David L – 1/Lt – Pilot – KIA
• Carter, Delmar J – 2/Lt – Copilot – Safe
• King, Donald C – 1/Lt – Navigator – KIA
• Lassandro, James L – 1/Lt – Bombardier – Safe
• Everett, Lloyd E – S/Sgt – Engineer – Safe (killed in action on August 25, 1944)
• Savoy, John B – T/Sgt – Radio Operator – Safe
• Baker, Robert S – S/Sgt – Gunner – KIA
• Sherman, William L – S/Sgt – Gunner – KIA
• Milliken, William – Sgt – Passenger – KIA
Source of information: Paul M. Webber, www.findagrave.com