World War II Honoree
Killed In Action
William L. Beggs
Branch of Service
U.S. Army Air Force
Hometown
Groveland, New York
Honored By
Orville L. Kline
Rank: Sergeant. He was inducted into the United States Army Air Corps September 20, 1942 at Buffalo, New York. Following his Basic Military Training; he was selected to attend the Flight Aviation Training Program. He served as a Radio Operator aboard the B-17H ‘Flying Fortress’ Bomber, assigned to the 703rd Bomber Squadron, 445th Bomber Group and an element of the U.S. 8th Air Force ‘Mighty Eighth’ Army Air Forces. His unit was based at Tibenham Royal Air Force Station England. On Wednesday, August 16, 1944 the ‘Flying Fortress’ with ten crewmembers, departed England on a bombing mission to Dessau, Germany. On Wednesday, August 16, 1944 he was reported Missing-in-Action, when his bomber and crew suffered a Mid-Air-Collision with another ‘Flying Fortress’, that had been hit by German anti-aircraft ground flak fire. The two Bombers crashed in the vicinity of Mosigkau, Germany. In remembrance of the brave, his name is permanently inscribed in the tablets of the missing, memorialized at: Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery and Memorial Location: Henri-Chapelle, Belgium. In his Memory and Honor, a cenotaph memorial has been placed at the Lakeview Cemetery, located at Groveland, New York. He served his Country with Pride and Honor. This American Patriot received the following decorations posthumously: Air Medal, Purple Heart, and his Silver Aviator Badge. The Air Medal was awarded to the Sergeant for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight, and the Purple Heart for his Heroism and ultimate sacrifice.