According to Washington (state) Birth Records 1907-1969, William Collins Dashiell (some sources spell "DaShiell") was born on March 20, 1916 to William Clyde Dashiell and Bertha Ellen Collins in Krupp, Washington. Other sources, apparently inaccurately, list his birth date as January 25, 1920.
The National Cemetery Internal Control Form 14, dated December, 1951, shows birth date as 3/20/1916, and entry into military service as 4/22/43. A note states his remains were "returned from overseas" and mentions 3 other airmen to be interred with him. Burial was on December 4, 1951.
Dashiell was assigned as a 2nd Lieutenant co-pilot to the Emerson crew on November 14, 1943. He flew 3 credited missions as co-pilot, starting on November 26, 1943, and then was up-graded to pilot and retained most of the crew. He flew 5 more missions with his own crew.
On January 11, 1944, the crew was assigned to participate in a bombing raid on vital war facilities at Obschersleben, Germany. Before the force could reach the target, a recall was issued, and most of the bombers turned back. The fighter escort turned back also. The 1st Bomb Command leader claimed not to hear the recall, and went to the target.
Enemy fighters were very aggressive, with no friendly fighter force to deter them. Approximately 300 attacked in waves of 15-20. Eleven B-17s would fall that day, Dashiell's being one of them. The circumstances are not known but this aircraft crashed somewhere between Dummer Lake and Obschersleben before reaching the target. All crew members were killed.
The remains were recovered and buried in a German cemetery, but after the war ended, several were returned to the U.S.; others were buried in military cemeteries in Europe....
NOTE: 303rd BG records list his name as DaShiell, as does the grave marker. All other references say Dashiell.
There were no children from his marriage to Betty Esterline.
The National Cemetery Internal Control Form 14, dated December, 1951, shows birth date as 3/20/1916, and entry into military service as 4/22/43. A note states his remains were "returned from overseas" and mentions 3 other airmen to be interred with him. Burial was on December 4, 1951.
Dashiell was assigned as a 2nd Lieutenant co-pilot to the Emerson crew on November 14, 1943. He flew 3 credited missions as co-pilot, starting on November 26, 1943, and then was up-graded to pilot and retained most of the crew. He flew 5 more missions with his own crew.
On January 11, 1944, the crew was assigned to participate in a bombing raid on vital war facilities at Obschersleben, Germany. Before the force could reach the target, a recall was issued, and most of the bombers turned back. The fighter escort turned back also. The 1st Bomb Command leader claimed not to hear the recall, and went to the target.
Enemy fighters were very aggressive, with no friendly fighter force to deter them. Approximately 300 attacked in waves of 15-20. Eleven B-17s would fall that day, Dashiell's being one of them. The circumstances are not known but this aircraft crashed somewhere between Dummer Lake and Obschersleben before reaching the target. All crew members were killed.
The remains were recovered and buried in a German cemetery, but after the war ended, several were returned to the U.S.; others were buried in military cemeteries in Europe....
NOTE: 303rd BG records list his name as DaShiell, as does the grave marker. All other references say Dashiell.
There were no children from his marriage to Betty Esterline.
According to Washington (state) Birth Records 1907-1969, William Collins Dashiell (some sources spell "DaShiell") was born on March 20, 1916 to William Clyde Dashiell and Bertha Ellen Collins in Krupp, Washington. Other sources, apparently inaccurately, list his birth date as January 25, 1920.
The National Cemetery Internal Control Form 14, dated December, 1951, shows birth date as 3/20/1916, and entry into military service as 4/22/43. A note states his remains were "returned from overseas" and mentions 3 other airmen to be interred with him. Burial was on December 4, 1951.
Dashiell was assigned as a 2nd Lieutenant co-pilot to the Emerson crew on November 14, 1943. He flew 3 credited missions as co-pilot, starting on November 26, 1943, and then was up-graded to pilot and retained most of the crew. He flew 5 more missions with his own crew.
On January 11, 1944, the crew was assigned to participate in a bombing raid on vital war facilities at Obschersleben, Germany. Before the force could reach the target, a recall was issued, and most of the bombers turned back. The fighter escort turned back also. The 1st Bomb Command leader claimed not to hear the recall, and went to the target.
Enemy fighters were very aggressive, with no friendly fighter force to deter them. Approximately 300 attacked in waves of 15-20. Eleven B-17s would fall that day, Dashiell's being one of them. The circumstances are not known but this aircraft crashed somewhere between Dummer Lake and Obschersleben before reaching the target. All crew members were killed.
The remains were recovered and buried in a German cemetery, but after the war ended, several were returned to the U.S.; others were buried in military cemeteries in Europe....
NOTE: 303rd BG records list his name as DaShiell, as does the grave marker. All other references say Dashiell.
There were no children from his marriage to Betty Esterline.
The National Cemetery Internal Control Form 14, dated December, 1951, shows birth date as 3/20/1916, and entry into military service as 4/22/43. A note states his remains were "returned from overseas" and mentions 3 other airmen to be interred with him. Burial was on December 4, 1951.
Dashiell was assigned as a 2nd Lieutenant co-pilot to the Emerson crew on November 14, 1943. He flew 3 credited missions as co-pilot, starting on November 26, 1943, and then was up-graded to pilot and retained most of the crew. He flew 5 more missions with his own crew.
On January 11, 1944, the crew was assigned to participate in a bombing raid on vital war facilities at Obschersleben, Germany. Before the force could reach the target, a recall was issued, and most of the bombers turned back. The fighter escort turned back also. The 1st Bomb Command leader claimed not to hear the recall, and went to the target.
Enemy fighters were very aggressive, with no friendly fighter force to deter them. Approximately 300 attacked in waves of 15-20. Eleven B-17s would fall that day, Dashiell's being one of them. The circumstances are not known but this aircraft crashed somewhere between Dummer Lake and Obschersleben before reaching the target. All crew members were killed.
The remains were recovered and buried in a German cemetery, but after the war ended, several were returned to the U.S.; others were buried in military cemeteries in Europe....
NOTE: 303rd BG records list his name as DaShiell, as does the grave marker. All other references say Dashiell.
There were no children from his marriage to Betty Esterline.
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2LT, US ARMY AIR FORCES WORLD WAR II
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