Fitzsimmons, Willis Ray

Individual Personnel Data
Name Fitzsimmons, Willis Ray   ‡
⇗
Rank Second Lieutenant
Serial Number O-814281   ‡
Unit Assignments Assigned to the 547th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #39 dated 27 February 1944, effective 27 February 1944.
Duty Navigator
MOS1034 - Navigator
Last Duty Date 13 April 1944
Results Killed In Action
Final Resting Place or Memorial: Lorraine American Cemetery, Saint-Avold, France: Plot G Row 9 Grave 29
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 16 July 1921
Related Documents Missing Air Crew Report # 3872⇓ (36.923 MB)
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album⇗
Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. McKinney, Jack Norman⇗PilotINT
2nd Lt. White, Dana Cales⇗Co-pilotKIA
2nd Lt. Fitzsimmons, Willis RayNavigatorKIA
S/SGT. Coffman, Beryl (NMI)⇗Radio Operator / GunnerPOW
S/SGT. Patterson, Robert A⇗Engineer / Top Turret GunnerPOW
SGT. Foster, Rayford Leo⇗Ball Turret GunnerTBD
SGT. Davis, Hubert Miles⇗Tail GunnerPOW
SGT. Friess, Earl Henry⇗Flexible GunnerPOW
SGT. Dunn, Lawrence Warren⇗Flexible GunnerTBD
Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 5 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
80⇗ 23 March 1944 Target: Airdrome and Airpark
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Gütersloh, Germany 		Navigator 42‑38208⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
81⇗ 24 March 1944 Target: Ball-Bearing Plant
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Schweinfurt, Germany 		Navigator 42‑97081⇗ Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed
Sortie Report⇗
82⇗ 26 March 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Le Grismont, Rebecques, France 		Navigator 42‑97510⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back at 1335 hrs over Molesworth because of smoke in bomb bay from unknown source. Landed away at Molesworth.
Sortie Report⇗
84⇗ 28 March 1944 Target: Dijon-Longvic Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Dijon, France 		Navigator 42‑97142⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
85⇗ 29 March 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Brunswick / Braunschweig, Germany 		Navigator 42‑97510⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Landed away at RAF Cottesmore, Rutland, due to weather.
Sortie Report⇗
86⇗ 9 April 1944 Target: FW-190 Fighter Aircraft Assembly Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Marienburg, Germany 		Navigator 42‑97142⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back at 1130 hrs; could not locate formation due to bad weather.
Sortie Report⇗
88⇗ 11 April 1944 Target: FW Aircraft Parts Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Sorau, Germany 		Navigator 42‑97231⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
89⇗ 13 April 1944 Target: Ball-Bearing Plant
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Schweinfurt, Germany 		Navigator 42‑97231⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Failed To Return
Shot down by Me-109s near Coblenz at 1320 hrs; crashed near Reichenbach, Odenwald, Germany. MACR 3872
Sortie Report⇗

Every effort has been expended to ensure all information on this page is complete and accurate.
Please inform webmaster of any discrepancies or omissions by using the button below.