Stark William Frederick

Name:

William Frederick Stark

Rank:

Staff Sergeant

Serial Number:

18074157

Unit:

449th Bomber Squadron, 322nd Bomber Group, Medium

Date of Death:

1944-08-12

State:

Texas

Cemetery:

Normandy American Cemetery, Colleville-Sur-Mer, France

Plot:

C

Row:

8

Grave:

37

Decoration:

Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal with 7 Oak Leaf Clusters

Comments:

William Frederick Stark was born on May 3, 1919, in Perryton, Texas. He was the son of August Fredrick Stark and Beulah Mae King Stark.

William served in the 449th Bomber Squadron, 322nd Bomber Group, Medium, as a Staff Sergeant and Mechanic/Gunner on the B-26 #41-31741 "Winnie Dee II" during World War II.

On August 12, 1944, his crew took off from Station 485 (RAF Andrewsfield) in England on a mission to induce German fighters to scramble so they could be engaged by escorting fighters. Shot down by flak at 20H40, their plane exploded in flight and crashed in l'Être in the commune of Saint-Pierre-du-Regard. All members were killed in this incident except for SSgt Thielan, who was able to evacuate by parachute.

SSgt Stark is now buried in the Normandy American Cemetery, Colleville-Sur-Mer, France.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, francecrashes39-45.net, www.abmc.gov