World War II Honoree
World War II Veteran
William Marion Beach
Branch of Service
U.S. Army Air Force
Hometown
Lordsburg, New Mexico
Honored By
Children and Grandchildren
TECHNICAL SERGEANT; 21 YEARS OLD, WAS A TOP TURRET GUNNER/ENGINEER ON THE B-17, FLYING FORTRESS, THE 'DRY MARTINI AND THE COCKTAIL KIDS' WITH L. ALLEN V. MARTINI AS THEIR PILOT. THEY WERE THE LEAD PLANE OF THE 364TH SQUADRON, 305TH BOMB GROUP. ASSIGNED TO CHELVESTON AIR FORCE BASE FROM EARLY OCTOBER 1942 TO OCTOBER 20, 1943. PARTICIPATED IN 25 MISSIONS TO INCLUDE PARIS, FRANCE ON APRIL 4, 1943, HEROYA, NORWAY ON JULY 24, 1943 AND SCHWEINFURT, GERMANY ON AUGUST 17, 1943. ON HIS FIFTH MISSION ON JANUARY 13, 1943 HE, ALONG WITH OTHER CREW MEMBERS WERE HIT WITH SHRAPNEL. RECEIVED THE PURPLE HEART, DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS AND AIR MEDAL. AFTER COMPLETING THE 25 MISSIONS, HE WAS SENT TO THE 100TH BOMB GROUP TO DEBRIEF THE GUNNERS AFTER THEIR MISSIONS FOR TWO MONTHS PRIOR TO RETURNING TO THE U.S.