William Earnest was born in 1922 in Pennsylvania, and was a resident of Westmoreland County, when he enlisted at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on January 12, 1942, "for the duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law", having completed two years of high school, single, without dependents, having been employed as a mechanic / repairman, 5'8" and weighing 154 lbs.
Staff Sergeant Earnest was a member of the crew of the Jackie Ellen, in the 367th Squadron 306th Bomber Group Heavy, which went down on October 14, 1943 over Schweinfurt (Bavaria), Germany.
He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, Purple Heart, and buried at the Lorraine American Cemetery at Saint-Avold, Departement de la Moselle, near Lorraine, France.
Sources: U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946; World War II and Korean Conflict Veterans Interred Overseas.
Links to other crew members of the Jackie Ellen:
1LT Douglas Hayden White Pilot.
1LT Emil O. Rasmussen, Jr., Co-Pilot.
1LT Carl A. Alexander Navigator.
SSgt George Toney, Jr., Bombardier.
TSgt. Joseph C. Bocelli, Radio Operator, POW.
TSgt Gus Riecke Top Turret Gunner.
SSgt Charles A. Adams Right Waist Gunner.
SSgt William R. Earnest Left Waist Gunner.
SSgt Francis W. Pulliam Ball Turret Gunner.
SSgt Walter D. Sherrill Tail Gunner.
Staff Sergeant Earnest was a member of the crew of the Jackie Ellen, in the 367th Squadron 306th Bomber Group Heavy, which went down on October 14, 1943 over Schweinfurt (Bavaria), Germany.
He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, Purple Heart, and buried at the Lorraine American Cemetery at Saint-Avold, Departement de la Moselle, near Lorraine, France.
Sources: U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946; World War II and Korean Conflict Veterans Interred Overseas.
Links to other crew members of the Jackie Ellen:
1LT Douglas Hayden White Pilot.
1LT Emil O. Rasmussen, Jr., Co-Pilot.
1LT Carl A. Alexander Navigator.
SSgt George Toney, Jr., Bombardier.
TSgt. Joseph C. Bocelli, Radio Operator, POW.
TSgt Gus Riecke Top Turret Gunner.
SSgt Charles A. Adams Right Waist Gunner.
SSgt William R. Earnest Left Waist Gunner.
SSgt Francis W. Pulliam Ball Turret Gunner.
SSgt Walter D. Sherrill Tail Gunner.
William Earnest was born in 1922 in Pennsylvania, and was a resident of Westmoreland County, when he enlisted at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on January 12, 1942, "for the duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law", having completed two years of high school, single, without dependents, having been employed as a mechanic / repairman, 5'8" and weighing 154 lbs.
Staff Sergeant Earnest was a member of the crew of the Jackie Ellen, in the 367th Squadron 306th Bomber Group Heavy, which went down on October 14, 1943 over Schweinfurt (Bavaria), Germany.
He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, Purple Heart, and buried at the Lorraine American Cemetery at Saint-Avold, Departement de la Moselle, near Lorraine, France.
Sources: U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946; World War II and Korean Conflict Veterans Interred Overseas.
Links to other crew members of the Jackie Ellen:
1LT Douglas Hayden White Pilot.
1LT Emil O. Rasmussen, Jr., Co-Pilot.
1LT Carl A. Alexander Navigator.
SSgt George Toney, Jr., Bombardier.
TSgt. Joseph C. Bocelli, Radio Operator, POW.
TSgt Gus Riecke Top Turret Gunner.
SSgt Charles A. Adams Right Waist Gunner.
SSgt William R. Earnest Left Waist Gunner.
SSgt Francis W. Pulliam Ball Turret Gunner.
SSgt Walter D. Sherrill Tail Gunner.
Staff Sergeant Earnest was a member of the crew of the Jackie Ellen, in the 367th Squadron 306th Bomber Group Heavy, which went down on October 14, 1943 over Schweinfurt (Bavaria), Germany.
He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, Purple Heart, and buried at the Lorraine American Cemetery at Saint-Avold, Departement de la Moselle, near Lorraine, France.
Sources: U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946; World War II and Korean Conflict Veterans Interred Overseas.
Links to other crew members of the Jackie Ellen:
1LT Douglas Hayden White Pilot.
1LT Emil O. Rasmussen, Jr., Co-Pilot.
1LT Carl A. Alexander Navigator.
SSgt George Toney, Jr., Bombardier.
TSgt. Joseph C. Bocelli, Radio Operator, POW.
TSgt Gus Riecke Top Turret Gunner.
SSgt Charles A. Adams Right Waist Gunner.
SSgt William R. Earnest Left Waist Gunner.
SSgt Francis W. Pulliam Ball Turret Gunner.
SSgt Walter D. Sherrill Tail Gunner.
Inscription
SSGT, 306 AAF BOMB GP WORLD WAR II
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from Pennsylvania.
Family Members
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