William Ivan Audette was born in 1922. He graduated from Windsor High School with the class of 1939 and was employed at the Cone Automatic Machine Co. before his service.

William enlisted at Windsor, Vermont, in the Army Air Corps on February 24, 1943. He served in the 848th Bomber Squadron, 490th Bomber Group, Heavy, as a First Lieutenant and Pilot on the B-17 #43-39130 during World War II. He was Killed in Action on March 21, 1945, when his plane was shot down over Leipzig, Germany, and it crashed near Strehla. 1Lt Audette is now buried in the Ardennes American Cemetery, Neupré, Belgium.

B-17 #43-39130 crew:
1Lt William Audette - Pilot - KIA
2Lt Raymond Ankeny - CoPilot - KIA
TSgt Robert Neuenschwander - Radio Operator - KIA
SSgt Ted Chapin - Right Waist Gunner - KIA
SSgt Roy McGhee - Tail Gunner - KIA
Pvt Virgil Dupler - RCM Operator - KIA
2Lt George Gilbert - Bombardier - POW
Lt Lewis Havard - Navigator - POW
TSgt Charles Johnston - Top Turret Gunner - POW
SSgt William Shipp - Ball Turret Gunner - POW

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.americanairmuseum.com, www.honorstates.org, www.abmc.gov