Bill was born to Ron and Minnie Macnab in 1923 in Oregon. He had 3 sisters and a brother: Margaret, Anna, Jean and Stuart. They grew up in Sherman County, Oregon. He graduated from St. Francis Academy, a High School in The dalles, Oregon.
At the age of 19 he enlisted in the US Army. He became a pilot in WWII and died after a bombing raid over Germany. His plane collided with another as the two plane were trying to take the same position. Bill's plane was below and the second plane was above, locked together and flying in a piggyback fashion. Before or during the crash landing, Bill and his co-pilot died, but 4 of Bill's 9 man crew survived. The pilot of the other plane, Glenn Rojohn, his co-pilot, William Leek, and 3 of their crew members survived.
For many years Bill's family did not know the circumstances around his death until a family friend got in touch with Glenn Rojohn. About 10 years ago the family first learned of Bill's fate.
Bill has a marker in his memory beside his parents' graves in St. Peter's Cemetery in The Dalles, Oregon (Find-a-Grave memorial # 32260490). Bill's body rests at The Netherlands American Cemetery in Margraten, the Netherlands.
His grave site in the Netherlands has been adopted by Ferry Harreman who said, "The meaning of adopting graves here at the US cemetery is that our liberators shall not be forgotten (even after 65 years). And I visit William 4 or 5 times a year and place flowers on his grave to Honor him. He and all of his comrades are heroes for me."
At the age of 19 he enlisted in the US Army. He became a pilot in WWII and died after a bombing raid over Germany. His plane collided with another as the two plane were trying to take the same position. Bill's plane was below and the second plane was above, locked together and flying in a piggyback fashion. Before or during the crash landing, Bill and his co-pilot died, but 4 of Bill's 9 man crew survived. The pilot of the other plane, Glenn Rojohn, his co-pilot, William Leek, and 3 of their crew members survived.
For many years Bill's family did not know the circumstances around his death until a family friend got in touch with Glenn Rojohn. About 10 years ago the family first learned of Bill's fate.
Bill has a marker in his memory beside his parents' graves in St. Peter's Cemetery in The Dalles, Oregon (Find-a-Grave memorial # 32260490). Bill's body rests at The Netherlands American Cemetery in Margraten, the Netherlands.
His grave site in the Netherlands has been adopted by Ferry Harreman who said, "The meaning of adopting graves here at the US cemetery is that our liberators shall not be forgotten (even after 65 years). And I visit William 4 or 5 times a year and place flowers on his grave to Honor him. He and all of his comrades are heroes for me."
Bill was born to Ron and Minnie Macnab in 1923 in Oregon. He had 3 sisters and a brother: Margaret, Anna, Jean and Stuart. They grew up in Sherman County, Oregon. He graduated from St. Francis Academy, a High School in The dalles, Oregon.
At the age of 19 he enlisted in the US Army. He became a pilot in WWII and died after a bombing raid over Germany. His plane collided with another as the two plane were trying to take the same position. Bill's plane was below and the second plane was above, locked together and flying in a piggyback fashion. Before or during the crash landing, Bill and his co-pilot died, but 4 of Bill's 9 man crew survived. The pilot of the other plane, Glenn Rojohn, his co-pilot, William Leek, and 3 of their crew members survived.
For many years Bill's family did not know the circumstances around his death until a family friend got in touch with Glenn Rojohn. About 10 years ago the family first learned of Bill's fate.
Bill has a marker in his memory beside his parents' graves in St. Peter's Cemetery in The Dalles, Oregon (Find-a-Grave memorial # 32260490). Bill's body rests at The Netherlands American Cemetery in Margraten, the Netherlands.
His grave site in the Netherlands has been adopted by Ferry Harreman who said, "The meaning of adopting graves here at the US cemetery is that our liberators shall not be forgotten (even after 65 years). And I visit William 4 or 5 times a year and place flowers on his grave to Honor him. He and all of his comrades are heroes for me."
At the age of 19 he enlisted in the US Army. He became a pilot in WWII and died after a bombing raid over Germany. His plane collided with another as the two plane were trying to take the same position. Bill's plane was below and the second plane was above, locked together and flying in a piggyback fashion. Before or during the crash landing, Bill and his co-pilot died, but 4 of Bill's 9 man crew survived. The pilot of the other plane, Glenn Rojohn, his co-pilot, William Leek, and 3 of their crew members survived.
For many years Bill's family did not know the circumstances around his death until a family friend got in touch with Glenn Rojohn. About 10 years ago the family first learned of Bill's fate.
Bill has a marker in his memory beside his parents' graves in St. Peter's Cemetery in The Dalles, Oregon (Find-a-Grave memorial # 32260490). Bill's body rests at The Netherlands American Cemetery in Margraten, the Netherlands.
His grave site in the Netherlands has been adopted by Ferry Harreman who said, "The meaning of adopting graves here at the US cemetery is that our liberators shall not be forgotten (even after 65 years). And I visit William 4 or 5 times a year and place flowers on his grave to Honor him. He and all of his comrades are heroes for me."
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from Portland, Oregon.
