Individual Personnel Data
| Name |
Koch, William S, "Willie" |
| Rank |
Second Lieutenant |
| Serial Number |
O-793784 |
| Unit Assignments |
Assigned to the 547th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho, Special Orders #70 dated 11 March 1943, effective 11 March 1943. |
| Duty |
Pilot |
| MOS | 1091 - Pilot, B-17 |
| Last Duty Date |
April 1943 |
| Results |
Transferred |
| Additional Information | |
| Photo Album: | Crew Photo Album⇗ |
Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Original 384th Combat Crew
| CREWMEMBER |
POSITION |
RESULTS |
| 2nd Lt. Koch, William S, "Willie" | Pilot | TR |
| 2nd Lt. Wollenweber, Herman, Jr⇗ | Co-pilot | POW |
| 2nd Lt. Knowling, Edward Johnson⇗ | Navigator | POW |
| 2nd Lt. Baggs, Joseph William⇗ | Bombardier | CT |
| S/SGT. Davis, Preston Allen⇗ | Radio Operator / Gunner | POW |
| S/SGT. Turlington, Howard Joe⇗ | Engineer / Top Turret Gunner | EV |
| S/SGT. Wolven, William David, "Bill"⇗ | Ball Turret Gunner | KIA |
| S/SGT. Martin, Burnia ((NMI)⇗ | Tail Gunner | POW |
| S/SGT. Ordaz, Armando Noriega⇗ | Flexible Gunner | POW |
| S/SGT. Rogers, Marion Coleman⇗ | Flexible Gunner | KIA |
Crew History The Koch Crew joined the 547th BS on 11 March 1943. Johnny Butler took over this crew when it was found that Koch needed additional training before being qualified for overseas combat duty. They were identified as Crew #19 on the Special Orders assigning them to the 384th, and became Crew #78 (547th BS, 8th crew).
This crew flew to England together (Captain Dillingham took Herman Wollenweber's place, and Wollenweber flew as Selden McMillin's copilot), and flew many missions together. Eventually, pressures of combat caused changes to the crew, a common occurrence during wartime. |
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