Willis W Alexander (1923 - 1944)

Born 10 Sep 1923 in Crafton, Wise, Texas, United States

Ancestors

Died 23 Mar 1944 at age 20 in Boxtel, North Brabant, Netherlands

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Sharon Bart [send private message]

Biography

Willis W Alexander was born 10 Sep 1923 if Crafton, Wise, Texas.^[1] He was the son of W. J. Alexander and Clyde Fowler.

Residence

• 1930 Precinct 3, Wise, Texas, United States^[2]
• 1940 Justice Precinct 1, Swisher, Texas, United States^[3]

Military

Staff Sergeant Willis Alexander served in the United States Army Air Forces in World War II
Service started: unknown
Unit(s): 385th Bomb Group; 550 Bomb Squad
Service ended: unknown

Staff Sergeant Willis Alexander was killed in Action during World War II.

Willis Alexander was awarded the Purple Heart.

Willis Alexander was awarded the World War II Victory Medal.

Willis Alexander was awarded the American Campaign Medal.

Willis Alexander was awarded the Army Good Conduct Medal.

Willis Alexander was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation (Army).

Staff Sergeant Willis W Alexander serverd in World War II with The 385th Bomb Group on the 550 Bomb Squad. He was a Ball Turret Gunner or several planes but mostly on the B17G Flying Fortress heavy bomber "Fulton's Folly" (42-39908). He went on the following missions:^[4][5]

1. 25 Feb 1944 Mission 68, Fulton Crew, position Ball Turret Gunner on Belle of the Blue (42-30094), a B-17F Flying Fortress heavy bomber. Their target was Regensburg.
2. 29 Feb 1944 Mission 70, Fulton Crew, position Ball Turret Gunner on The Purple Shaft (42-31922), a B-17G Flying Fortress heavy bomber. Their target was Brunswick.
3. 3 Mar 1944 Mission 71, Fulton Crew, position Ball Turret Gunner on Fulton's Folly (42-39908), a B-17G Flying Fortress heavy bomber. Their target was Berlin.
4. 4 Mar 1944 Mission 72, Fulton Crew, position Ball Turret Gunner on Fulton's Folly (42-39908), a B-17G Flying Fortress heavy bomber. Their target was Berlin.
5. 8 Mar 1944 Mission 74, Fulton Crew, position Ball Turret Gunner on Fulton's Folly (42-39908), a B-17G Flying Fortress heavy bomber. Their target was Berlin.
6. 11 Mar 1944 Mission 76, Fulton Crew, position Ball Turret Gunner on Fulton's Folly (42-39908), a B-17G Flying Fortress heavy bomber. Their target was Munster.
7. 15 Mar 1944 Mission, 77, Clark Crew, position Ball Turret Gunner on (42-38196), a B-17G Flying Fortress heavy bomber. Their target was Brunswick.
8. 16 Mar 1944 Fulton Crew, position Ball Turret Gunner on Fulton's Folly (42-39908), a B-17G Flying Fortress heavy bomber. Their target was Ausburg.
9. 18 Mar 1944 Mission, 79, Alexander Crew, position Ball Turret Gunner on Alexander's Ragtime Band (42-31237), a B-17G Flying Fortress heavy bomber. Their target was Munich.
10. 20 Mar 1944 Mission 80, Schneider Crew, position Ball Turret Gunner on Stormy Angel (42-39918), a B-17G Flying Fortress heavy bomber. Their target was Frankfurt.
11. 23 Mar 1944 Mission 82, Fulton Crew, position Ball Turret Gunner on Fulton's Folly (42-39908), a B-17G Flying Fortress heavy bomber. Their target was Brunswick. Shot down near Boxtel, Netherlands. 8 Crew KIA, 1 POW, 1 escaped. Missing Air Crew Report 3321.^[6]

Death

Willis W Alexander was killed in action 23 Mar 1944 near Boxtel, North Brabant, Netherlands.^{[7] [8]}

Sources

1. ↑ "Texas, U.S., Birth Certificates, 1903-1932," Ancestry.com, (https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/28236831?h=d35683), citing baby boy Alexander.
2. ↑ "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:H2YT-KPZ : accessed 24 April 2022), Willis Alexander in household of W J Alexander, Precinct 3, Wise, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 9, sheet 6A, line 7, family 98, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 2406; FHL microfilm 2,342,140.
3. ↑ "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K43V-L5N : 10 January 2021), Willis Alexander in household of Joe W Alexander, Justice Precinct 1, Swisher, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 219-5B, sheet 8A, line 15, family 142, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 4140.
4. ↑ 385th Bomb Group Association, (https://www.385thbga.com/records/database/), citing Willis W Alexander.
5. ↑ "385th Bomb Group Association," Mission Reports, (https://www.385thbga.com/records/index-mission-number-to-date-and-target-2/mission-summaries/).
6. ↑ American Air Museum, Brittain, database with photos, (https://www.americanairmuseum.com/person/237517), citing Willis W Alexander. Has photo submitted by family.
7. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/63985936/willis-w-alexander : accessed 23 April 2022), memorial page for SSGT Willis W Alexander (10 Sep 1923–23 Mar 1944), Find a Grave Memorial ID 63985936, citing Kress Cemetery, Kress, Swisher County, Texas, USA ; Maintained by Sharon Bart (contributor 49582316) .
8. ↑ "United States Headstone Applications for U.S. Military Veterans, 1925-1949", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVS1-12L6 : 26 April 2021), Willis W Alexander, .

• "Family Tree," database, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org : modified 26 March 2019, 14:08), entry for Willis W Alexander (PID https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/4:1:L8YN-TG5 ); contributed by various users.