William Gill, Jr. was born on October 13, 1924, in Triadelphia, West Virginia. He was the son of William Gill and Beulah Cook Gill.

William served in the 549th Bomber Squadron, 385th Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Technical Sergeant and Radio Operator on the B-17 #42-37963 during World War II. On February 21, 1944, bombers were returning to the 385th Bomber Group's base at Great Ashfield, England, from a raid on targets in Germany. The pilot lost control of the plane in the clouds. He collided with another aircraft (B-17 #42-31370) in the formation; a bomber from the 550th Bomb Squadron. Both aircraft crashed into the marshes at Reedham, and all of the crew members of both airplanes were killed.

TSgt Gill is now buried in the Saint Clairsville Union Cemetery, Saint Clairsville, Belmont County, Ohio, USA.