World War II Honoree

William Lucas Goff, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Memphis, Tennessee

Honored By

Sam E. Pennartz

ENLISTED IN THE ARMY AIR CORPS ON 31 AUGUST 1942 AT MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE. UNDERWENT B-29 AIRCRAFT OPERATIONAL TRAINING AT GREAT BEND ARMY AIR FIELD, KANSAS. DEPLOYED TO THE CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATRE OF OPERATIONS AND WAS ASSIGNED TO 20TH AIR FORCE, XXI BOMBER COMMAND, 73RD BOMB WING, 498TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP, 873RD BOMB SQUADRON STATIONED AT ISLEY FIELD ON SAIPAN IN THE MARIANA ISLANDS. ON 13 DECEMBER 1944, HE FLEW AS AN AERIAL GUNNER IN THE CENTRAL FIRE CONTROL BARBER CHAIR STATION ABOARD A BOEING B-29 SUPERFORTRESS, TAIL CODE T-SQUARE-1 (SERIAL #42-63430). IT WAS ONE OF 90 AIRCRAFT LAUNCHED IN A MULTI-GROUP FORMATION TO BOMBARD THE MITSUBISHI AIRCRAFT ENGINE PLANT NEAR NAGOYA, JAPAN. FLAK FROM ANTI-AIRCRAFT ARTILLERY WAS HEAVY AND ENEMY FIGHTER AIRCRAFT ATTACKS WERE DESCRIBED AS MODERATE, WITH 106 PASSES REPORTED. ON THE RETURN ROUTE HOME, HIS AIRCRAFT INFORMED: TWO AIRCREW MEMBERS WOUNDED, ONE ENGINE OUT, THE INSTRUMENTS SHOT UP, AND LOW ON FUEL. LAST RADIO CONTACT GAVE GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION AS 18 DEGREES NORTH AND 144 DEGREES EAST. HE WAS KILLED WHEN HIS AIRCRAFT WAS FORCED TO DITCH APPROXIMATELY 360 KILOMETERS NORTH OF SAIPAN.