Wolven, William David

Individual Personnel Data
Name	Wolven, William David, "Bill" ‡ ⇗
Rank	Staff Sergeant
Serial Number	12129628 ‡
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	Ball Turret Gunner
MOS	757 - Radio Operator / Mechanic / Gunner, AAF
Last Duty Date	12 August 1943
Results	Killed In Action Final Resting Place or Memorial: Ardennes American Cemetery, Neupré, Belgium: Plot B Row 35 Grave 13
Additional Information	Date of Birth: 13 November 1923
Related Documents	Missing Air Crew Report # 286⇓ (21.422 MB)
Photo Album:	Crew Photo Album⇗

Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Original 384^th 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.

Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 9 Combat Missions.
Number	Date	Target	Position	Aircraft	Mission/Sortie Information
1⇗	22 June 1943	Target: General Motors Truck Factory Type: Industry Location: Antwerp, Belgium	Ball Turret	42‑5852⇗	Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗
2⇗	25 June 1943	Target: Industrial Area & Submarine Pens Type: Military Location: Hamburg, Germany	Ball Turret	42‑5852⇗	Combat Mission Credit Bombed primary target on wing lead. Sortie Report⇗
4⇗	28 June 1943	Target: Fighter Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Beaumont-le-Roger, France	Ball Turret	42‑5852⇗	Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗
5⇗	29 June 1943	Target: duNord Aircraft Works, Villacoublay Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Paris, France	Ball Turret	42‑5852⇗	Combat Mission Credit Low Squadron Deputy. Sortie Report⇗
6⇗	4 July 1943	Target: Gnome et Rhone Aircraft Engine Plant Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Le Mans, France	Ball Turret	42‑5852⇗	Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗
7⇗	10 July 1943	Target: Drucat Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Abbeville, France	Ball Turret	42‑5852⇗	Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗
8⇗	14 July 1943	Target: Villacoublay Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Paris, France	Ball Turret	42‑5852⇗	Combat Mission Credit Group lead. Sortie Report⇗
9⇗	24 July 1943	Target: Aluminum & Magnesium Plants Type: Industry Location: Herøya, Norway	Ball Turret	42‑5852⇗	Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗
14⇗	12 August 1943	Target: Synthetic Fuel Hydrogenation Plant Type: Industry Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany	Ball Turret	42‑3104⇗	Combat Mission Credit Failed To Return Damaged by enemy aircraft; crashed near 'House Oelgarten', Hennef, Germany. MACR 286 Sortie Report⇗

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