Son of Mr. & Mrs. John D. Burke who resided in Webster, New York.

William served as a Sergeant on B-17 #42-5769, 347th Bomber Squadron, 99th Bomber Group, Heavy, U.S. Army Air Force during World War II.

He resided in Webster, Monroe County, New York prior to the war. He graduated from Webster High School.

He enlisted in the Army on October 8, 1942 in Rochester, New York. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being employed as a Barber, in his Dad's barber shop, and also as Single, without dependents.

William was declared "Missing In Action" when his B-17, after being battle damaged, ditched off Corsica, near Ajaccio airport, Italy in the Sea Of Sardina during the war.

He was awarded an Air Medal and a Purple Heart.

This B-17 was found in 2004 in shallow water a few hundred yards of shore.

Service # 32473255

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Airmen who perished on B-17 #42-5769:

Burke, William D ~ Sgt, New York ~ MIA
Wright, Orry E ~ S/Sgt, New York ~ KIA

The rest of the crew survived.

Bio & Crew Report by:
Russell S. "Russ" Pickett

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Son of Mr. & Mrs. John D. Burke who resided in Webster, New York.

William served as a Sergeant on B-17 #42-5769, 347th Bomber Squadron, 99th Bomber Group, Heavy, U.S. Army Air Force during World War II.

He resided in Webster, Monroe County, New York prior to the war. He graduated from Webster High School.

He enlisted in the Army on October 8, 1942 in Rochester, New York. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being employed as a Barber, in his Dad's barber shop, and also as Single, without dependents.

William was declared "Missing In Action" when his B-17, after being battle damaged, ditched off Corsica, near Ajaccio airport, Italy in the Sea Of Sardina during the war.

He was awarded an Air Medal and a Purple Heart.

This B-17 was found in 2004 in shallow water a few hundred yards of shore.

Service # 32473255

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Airmen who perished on B-17 #42-5769:

Burke, William D ~ Sgt, New York ~ MIA
Wright, Orry E ~ S/Sgt, New York ~ KIA

The rest of the crew survived.

Bio & Crew Report by:
Russell S. "Russ" Pickett

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~