William M. Annan was born on July 10, 1918 in Maryland. He was the son of John Stewart Annan and Elizabeth Morrison Annan. He served in the 835th Bomber Squadron, 486th Bomb Group, as a Second Lieutenant and Navigator on the B-17 #43-38137 "Miss B Haven" during World War II. On October 15, 1944, during a mission to Cologne, Germany, his plane takeoff from Sudbury Airfield in Suffolk. But just after the took off, they experienced engine trouble, failing to gain height, and crashed near the end of the runway. All crew members were killed except the pilot.

2LT Annan is now buried in the Cambridge American Cemetery, Cambridge, United Kingdom.

B-17 #43-38137 crew: Pilot; 2lt., Clarence HERMANN. Injured, Survived.
Co-pilot; 2lt., Robert ETTER
Navigator; 2Lt., William ANNAN
Left Waist Gunner; Sgt., John JACKSON
Flight Engineer; S/Sgt., John SARTAIN
Bombardier; 2lt., Vernon MEIERHENRY
Ball Turret Gunner; Sgt., Ralph SPAULDING
Radio Operator; S/Sgt., Robert STONE
Rear Gunner; Sgt., Joseph COOK