William C. Boucek was born on October 14, 1924. A graduate of Allegheny High School, he was attending Carnegie tech when he entered the Army. He went overseas in 1944 and finished 35 missions on a bomber and then transferred to a fighter group.

At the time of his death, he was serving in the 360th Fighter Squadron, 356th Fighter Group, as a First Lieutenant and Fighter Pilot. He was killed on June 30, 1945, in Ipswich, England, on a local clearance for the purpose of testing his aircraft prior to ferrying it to the continent. A wing broke off his fighter plane, and his airplane crashed at RAF Station Bentwaters airfield. It is believed that Boucek got out at about 300-400 feet. Although the ripcord handle had been pulled, the chute did not open until impact with the ground.

1Lt Boucek is now buried in the Cambridge American Cemetery, Cambridge, United Kingdom. He also has a cenotaph located in the Christ Our Redeemer Catholic Cemetery, Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, USA.

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