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Maj Paul Irving Williams
Monument

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Maj Paul Irving Williams Veteran

Birth
Oklahoma, USA
Death
21 May 1943
New Ireland, Papua New Guinea
Monument
Manila, Capital District, National Capital Region, Philippines Add to Map
Plot
Tablets of the Missing
Memorial ID
View Source
He married Lois Knight of Clewiston, Florida. He was a graduate of the University of Oklahoma.

Williams was the pilot of B-17E #41-9244, assigned to the 5th Air Force, 43rd Bombardment Group, 64th Bombardment Squadron. The plane was nicknamed 'Honi Kuu Okole', which means 'kiss my ass' in Hawaiian.

In the early morning hours of May 21, 1943 the plane took off from Dobodura Airfield in Papua New Guinea to bomb Vunakanau Airfield near Rabaul. before arriving at the target, however, the plane was attacked by a Japanese night fighter and seriously damaged. The pilot turned the bomber southward and ordered the crew to bail out. Only three managed to escape before the plane crashed into the ocean.

Because his body was never recovered, Williams is memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing. He received the Silver Star with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and the Purple Heart.
He married Lois Knight of Clewiston, Florida. He was a graduate of the University of Oklahoma.

Williams was the pilot of B-17E #41-9244, assigned to the 5th Air Force, 43rd Bombardment Group, 64th Bombardment Squadron. The plane was nicknamed 'Honi Kuu Okole', which means 'kiss my ass' in Hawaiian.

In the early morning hours of May 21, 1943 the plane took off from Dobodura Airfield in Papua New Guinea to bomb Vunakanau Airfield near Rabaul. before arriving at the target, however, the plane was attacked by a Japanese night fighter and seriously damaged. The pilot turned the bomber southward and ordered the crew to bail out. Only three managed to escape before the plane crashed into the ocean.

Because his body was never recovered, Williams is memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing. He received the Silver Star with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and the Purple Heart.

Gravesite Details

Entered the service from Oklahoma.



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  • Maintained by: dfr
  • Originally Created by: War Graves
  • Added: Aug 8, 2010
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56791900/paul_irving-williams: accessed ), memorial page for Maj Paul Irving Williams (unknown–21 May 1943), Find a Grave Memorial ID 56791900, citing Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Manila, Capital District, National Capital Region, Philippines; Maintained by dfr (contributor 47109209).