William Carl Sawyer was born on August 24, 1922, in New Kent County, Virginia. He was the son of William Carl Sawyer and Mary Jane Sawyer. He was married to Gladys Johnson Weaver. He enlisted in the service on October 21, 1943. He served in the 566th Bomber Squadron, 389th Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Staff Sergeant and Gunner of B-24 #42-50452 nicknamed "Earthquake McGoon'' during World War II.

On November 21, 1944, B-24 42-50452 “Earthquake McGoon,” piloted by Lt. Alfred Brooks, was among a group of heavy bombers assembling over Norfolk, England, near RAF Hethel, where like many Eighth Air Force aircraft, it circled in a “buncher” pattern while climbing and maneuvering into a tight combat formation for a mission over Europe, a phase that was already highly dangerous even before reaching enemy territory; during this process, it collided mid-air with another B-24, serial 44-10513, as both aircraft were turning in the same circular pattern and converging while focusing on formation spacing, resulting in a sudden impact at around 13,000 feet that fatally damaged both bombers, sending 44-10513 into a violent spin while Earthquake McGoon also became uncontrollable, with both aircraft ultimately crashing near Carleton Rode, Norfolk, in a disaster that killed 17 airmen in total, including most of the crew aboard Earthquake McGoon.

SSgt Sawyer is now buried in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia, USA.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.b24-kingsize.com