Joined the U.S. Army Air Corps in June 1941. In December 1942, he was a First Lieutenant, B-17 Flying Fortress pilot assigned to the 401st Bombardment Squadron, 91st Bombardment Group (Heavy), 8th Air Force, U.S. Army Air Forces, European Theater of Operations deployed to Royal Air Force (RAF) Bassingbourn; World War II. Army Officer Service Number (aka "serial number"): O-438025. On 20 Dec 1942, his 6th mission over France, he was killed in action enroute to bomb the German air depot at Romilly, France (shot and died at the controls of the B-17F tail #41-24452).
The remaining crew parachuted out and became prisoners of war. Two crewmembers, T/Sgt. Allen W. Haynes and Sgt. Steve Stefula, would later die of wounds while in captivity [3KIA, 7POW; MACR 16243.].
His name is permanently memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing in the Normandy American Cemetery, Colleville-sur-Mer, France.
1Lt English was the first casualty from Houston County serving in World War II.
The remaining crew parachuted out and became prisoners of war. Two crewmembers, T/Sgt. Allen W. Haynes and Sgt. Steve Stefula, would later die of wounds while in captivity [3KIA, 7POW; MACR 16243.].
His name is permanently memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing in the Normandy American Cemetery, Colleville-sur-Mer, France.
1Lt English was the first casualty from Houston County serving in World War II.
Joined the U.S. Army Air Corps in June 1941. In December 1942, he was a First Lieutenant, B-17 Flying Fortress pilot assigned to the 401st Bombardment Squadron, 91st Bombardment Group (Heavy), 8th Air Force, U.S. Army Air Forces, European Theater of Operations deployed to Royal Air Force (RAF) Bassingbourn; World War II. Army Officer Service Number (aka "serial number"): O-438025. On 20 Dec 1942, his 6th mission over France, he was killed in action enroute to bomb the German air depot at Romilly, France (shot and died at the controls of the B-17F tail #41-24452).
The remaining crew parachuted out and became prisoners of war. Two crewmembers, T/Sgt. Allen W. Haynes and Sgt. Steve Stefula, would later die of wounds while in captivity [3KIA, 7POW; MACR 16243.].
His name is permanently memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing in the Normandy American Cemetery, Colleville-sur-Mer, France.
1Lt English was the first casualty from Houston County serving in World War II.
The remaining crew parachuted out and became prisoners of war. Two crewmembers, T/Sgt. Allen W. Haynes and Sgt. Steve Stefula, would later die of wounds while in captivity [3KIA, 7POW; MACR 16243.].
His name is permanently memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing in the Normandy American Cemetery, Colleville-sur-Mer, France.
1Lt English was the first casualty from Houston County serving in World War II.
Inscription
s/o Nannie Smith & W.R. English; Buried near Paris, France
Gravesite Details
In Memory of AAF B-17 pilot - Killed in action over Amiens, France - First Casualty WWII from Houston County, Texas, - (Gravesight never found)
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