He was the son of Walter Lee Watson and Mary Ann (Sifford) Watson.
Watson was a waist gunner on B-17F #41-24503, nicknamed "Pandora's Box", assigned to the 8th Air Force, 91st Bombardment Group, 324th Bombardment Squadron. They were part of a ten plane formation on a mission to bomb the U-boat base at St Nazaire France. They came under attack from sixteen German FW 190 fighters when crossing the coast, and the attacks continued as they neared the target. Because of heavy damage, the pilot turned his plane towards the sea, accompanied by three other B-17s. They had two engines out so his plane couldn't keep up with the others or maintain altitude. He signaled for them to maintain speed as he steadily drifted farther behind, finally making a forced landing in the water approximately thirty miles northwest of St Nazaire. None of the men on board survived.
Because his body was not recovered, he is memorialized on the Wall of the Missing. He received the Air Medal and the Purple Heart.
Watson is also memorialized in Salem Lutheran Church Cemetery in Salisbury North Carolina, alongside his parents.
Watson was a waist gunner on B-17F #41-24503, nicknamed "Pandora's Box", assigned to the 8th Air Force, 91st Bombardment Group, 324th Bombardment Squadron. They were part of a ten plane formation on a mission to bomb the U-boat base at St Nazaire France. They came under attack from sixteen German FW 190 fighters when crossing the coast, and the attacks continued as they neared the target. Because of heavy damage, the pilot turned his plane towards the sea, accompanied by three other B-17s. They had two engines out so his plane couldn't keep up with the others or maintain altitude. He signaled for them to maintain speed as he steadily drifted farther behind, finally making a forced landing in the water approximately thirty miles northwest of St Nazaire. None of the men on board survived.
Because his body was not recovered, he is memorialized on the Wall of the Missing. He received the Air Medal and the Purple Heart.
Watson is also memorialized in Salem Lutheran Church Cemetery in Salisbury North Carolina, alongside his parents.
He was the son of Walter Lee Watson and Mary Ann (Sifford) Watson.
Watson was a waist gunner on B-17F #41-24503, nicknamed "Pandora's Box", assigned to the 8th Air Force, 91st Bombardment Group, 324th Bombardment Squadron. They were part of a ten plane formation on a mission to bomb the U-boat base at St Nazaire France. They came under attack from sixteen German FW 190 fighters when crossing the coast, and the attacks continued as they neared the target. Because of heavy damage, the pilot turned his plane towards the sea, accompanied by three other B-17s. They had two engines out so his plane couldn't keep up with the others or maintain altitude. He signaled for them to maintain speed as he steadily drifted farther behind, finally making a forced landing in the water approximately thirty miles northwest of St Nazaire. None of the men on board survived.
Because his body was not recovered, he is memorialized on the Wall of the Missing. He received the Air Medal and the Purple Heart.
Watson is also memorialized in Salem Lutheran Church Cemetery in Salisbury North Carolina, alongside his parents.
Watson was a waist gunner on B-17F #41-24503, nicknamed "Pandora's Box", assigned to the 8th Air Force, 91st Bombardment Group, 324th Bombardment Squadron. They were part of a ten plane formation on a mission to bomb the U-boat base at St Nazaire France. They came under attack from sixteen German FW 190 fighters when crossing the coast, and the attacks continued as they neared the target. Because of heavy damage, the pilot turned his plane towards the sea, accompanied by three other B-17s. They had two engines out so his plane couldn't keep up with the others or maintain altitude. He signaled for them to maintain speed as he steadily drifted farther behind, finally making a forced landing in the water approximately thirty miles northwest of St Nazaire. None of the men on board survived.
Because his body was not recovered, he is memorialized on the Wall of the Missing. He received the Air Medal and the Purple Heart.
Watson is also memorialized in Salem Lutheran Church Cemetery in Salisbury North Carolina, alongside his parents.
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from North Carolina
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