World War II Honoree

William F. Phelps

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Noank, Connecticut

Honored By

John Meurs

Relationship

Dutch Historian

SERVICE NUMBER: 0-706899. BOMBARDIER WITH THE 491ST BOMB GROUP, 853RD BOMB SQUADRON OF THE 8TH U.S. ARMY AIR FORCES BASED IN ENGLAND. ON SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1944, HIS BOMBER, THE B-24 'FIREBIRD' WITH SERIAL NUMBER 42-110167, WHILE ON A MISSION TO THE SYNTHETIC FUEL PLANT IN MISBURG, GERMANY, WAS ATTACKED JUST AFTER BOMBING BY GERMAN FIGHTERS. THE BOMBER CRASHED NEAR BREDENBECK, GERMANY. TWO CREW MEMBERS SAVED THEMSELVES BY PARACHUTE AND WERE TAKEN PRISONER. THE OTHER EIGHT, AMONG THEM THE HONOREE, LOST THEIR LIVES.