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1LT William Robert Farrington
Monument

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1LT William Robert Farrington Veteran

Birth
Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, USA
Death
1 Mar 1945 (aged 24)
Hungary
Monument
Florence, Città Metropolitana di Firenze, Toscana, Italy Add to Map
Plot
Tablets of the Missing
Memorial ID
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First Lieutenant Farrington was the pilot of
B-24J Liberator #44-41218, serving with the
716th Bomb Squadron, 449th Bomb Group during
World War II.

Departing Italy on a mission to strike the
oil refineries at Moosbierbaum, Austria, on
March 1st, 1945, his bomber was shot down by
flak over Acstezar, Hungary.

One crew member, S/Sgt. Kenneth C. Rost,
was killed aboard the plane by the flak hit.
The remaining crew bailed out and survived
the parachuting to ground.

Although Hungary had surrendered to the
United Nations in January of 1945, members
of a voluntary Hungarian SS Panzer corps,
aligned with the German Reich, took captive
the American air crew.

The following day, the SS guards executed
seven of the eight airmen who had
surrendered.
Only the Navigator on this bombing mission
survived; he had landed in another region and
was captured by a different force.

In October, 1945, a grave was found
containing the bodies of some of the men.
It was found in a wooded area near the village
of Sur.
They had been stripped of their uniforms. They
were only clad in underwear.

Six SS officers were put on trial for war crimes.

Four were convicted and sentenced to hang,
and two were imprisoned for life for the
shooting of the surrendered and unarmed
young American fliers.

The crew members lost on this mission:

1st Lt. William R. Farrington, pilot
2nd Lt. Warren F Ames
2nd Lt. John P Knox
T/Sgt. Donald P Brown
T/Sgt. Felix D Kozekowski
S/Sgt. James F Bradley
S/Sgt. Hubert R Burnette
S/Sgt. Preston J Hill
S/Sgt. Kenneth C Rost

Missing Air Crew Report 12745

*************************************************
U.S. Army Service No. (ASN): #O-684508
Entered the Service from: Pennsylvania
716th Bomb Squadron, 449th Bomb Group, Heavy
Awards: Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Official Declaration of Death: March 2nd, 1946

William R. Farrington is listed under Finding Of Death in the 1946 Army and Army Air Forces Personnel Casualty List for Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.
First Lieutenant Farrington was the pilot of
B-24J Liberator #44-41218, serving with the
716th Bomb Squadron, 449th Bomb Group during
World War II.

Departing Italy on a mission to strike the
oil refineries at Moosbierbaum, Austria, on
March 1st, 1945, his bomber was shot down by
flak over Acstezar, Hungary.

One crew member, S/Sgt. Kenneth C. Rost,
was killed aboard the plane by the flak hit.
The remaining crew bailed out and survived
the parachuting to ground.

Although Hungary had surrendered to the
United Nations in January of 1945, members
of a voluntary Hungarian SS Panzer corps,
aligned with the German Reich, took captive
the American air crew.

The following day, the SS guards executed
seven of the eight airmen who had
surrendered.
Only the Navigator on this bombing mission
survived; he had landed in another region and
was captured by a different force.

In October, 1945, a grave was found
containing the bodies of some of the men.
It was found in a wooded area near the village
of Sur.
They had been stripped of their uniforms. They
were only clad in underwear.

Six SS officers were put on trial for war crimes.

Four were convicted and sentenced to hang,
and two were imprisoned for life for the
shooting of the surrendered and unarmed
young American fliers.

The crew members lost on this mission:

1st Lt. William R. Farrington, pilot
2nd Lt. Warren F Ames
2nd Lt. John P Knox
T/Sgt. Donald P Brown
T/Sgt. Felix D Kozekowski
S/Sgt. James F Bradley
S/Sgt. Hubert R Burnette
S/Sgt. Preston J Hill
S/Sgt. Kenneth C Rost

Missing Air Crew Report 12745

*************************************************
U.S. Army Service No. (ASN): #O-684508
Entered the Service from: Pennsylvania
716th Bomb Squadron, 449th Bomb Group, Heavy
Awards: Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Official Declaration of Death: March 2nd, 1946

William R. Farrington is listed under Finding Of Death in the 1946 Army and Army Air Forces Personnel Casualty List for Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.

Inscription

1 LT 716 BOMB SQ 449 BOMB GP(H) PA


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