World War II Honoree
Killed in World War II
William Burwell Edwards
Branch of Service
U.S. Army Air Force
Hometown
Los Angeles County, California
Honored By
Sam E. Pennartz
ENLISTED IN THE ARMY AIR CORPS ON APRIL 3, 1942 AT LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA. GRADUATED FROM BOMBARDIER TRAINING CLASS 43-11 AT MIDLAND ARMY AIR FIELD, TEXAS. ASSIGNED TO THE SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATRES OF OPERATIONS, FIFTH AIR FORCE, 309TH BOMB WING, 43RD BOMBARDMENT GROUP (HEAVY), 64TH BOMB SQUADRON STATIONED AT THE LAE-NADZAB AIRFIELD COMPLEX, NEW GUINEA. ON JUNE 13, 1944 (FROM MOKERANG AIRFIELD), HE FLEW IN THE BOMBARDIER POSITION ONBOARD A B-24D LIBERATOR NICKNAMED THE 'UNCLE SAM' (TAIL #42-72811) ON A NIGHT-TIME PATHFINDER STRIKE MISSION TO BOMB JAPANESE AIR AND NAVAL FORCES ON YAP IN THE CAROLINE ISLANDS. APPROXIMATELY FIVE HOURS INTO THE 13-HOUR ROUND TRIP MISSION, THE AIRCRAFT BURST INTO FLAMES AND CRASHED IN THE OCEAN, WITH NO SURVIVORS.