Igou, William Fredrick

Individual Personnel Data
Name Igou, William Fredrick, "Bill"   ‡
⇗
Rank Sergeant / Staff Sergeant
Serial Number 34333114   ‡
Unit Assignments Assigned to the 547th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per 547th Bomb Squadron Unit History, effective 27 January 1943.
Duty Tail Gunner
MOS612 - Airplane Armorer / Gunner
Last Duty Date 12 August 1943
Results Prisoner Of War
POW Camp: Stalag Luft 3 Sagan-Silesia (Moved to Nuremberg-Langwasser) 49-11
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 31 July 1921
  • Appointed Staff Sergeant per Special Orders #79, paragraph 6, Headquarters 384th Bombardment Group, Wendover Field, Utah dated 1 April 1943.
  • Promoted to Sergeant on AAF Station 106 Special Orders #20 dated 28 May 1943.
  • Promoted to Staff Sergeant per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #37 dated 27 June 1943.
Related Documents Missing Air Crew Report # 286⇓ (21.422 MB)
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album⇗
Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
547th BOMB SQUADRON MODEL CREW
The first combat crew assigned to the squadron.
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
1st Lt. Smith, James William⇗PilotPOW
2nd Lt. Keck, George Blackburn⇗Co-pilotKIA
2nd Lt. Taber, Robin Everett⇗NavigatorPOW
2nd Lt. Meyers, Francis Joseph, Jr⇗BombardierPOW
S/SGT. Reichwein, John Joseph⇗Radio Operator / GunnerPOW
S/SGT. Buckley, Robert Harrison⇗Engineer / Top Turret GunnerKIA
SGT. Jones, Lynn Tilton⇗Ball Turret GunnerPOW
SGT. Igou, William Fredrick, "Bill"Tail GunnerPOW
SGT. MacArthur, Stanley William⇗Flexible GunnerPOW
PFC. Pratt, David Alan⇗Flexible GunnerPOW

Crew History

The James W Smith Crew was the first one to be assigned to the 547th BS of the 384th BG at Wendover - becoming its "Model Crew" and "Crew 71" (crew #1 of the 547th) - on 27 January 1943, joining Pratt who had arrived the day prior.

Co-pilot Keck was later given his own crew, #77, and was replaced by Robert B Kilmer, Jr., a pilot who had arrived with a new crew on 11 March 1943.

The Smith Crew, less Kilmer, Taber, and Igou, were shot down on its second mission, and Buckley was KIA. All the remainder were POW - which later was the fate of the remaining member of the crew who did not fly that mission.
Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 10 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
1⇗ 22 June 1943 Target: General Motors Truck Factory
Type: Industry
Location: Antwerp, Belgium 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑5850⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
2⇗ 25 June 1943 Target: Industrial Area & Submarine Pens
Type: Military
Location: Hamburg, Germany 		Tail Gunner 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 		Tail Gunner 42‑3235⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑5849. Turned back with top turret and ball turret problems.
Sortie Report⇗
5⇗ 29 June 1943 Target: duNord Aircraft Works, Villacoublay Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Paris, France 		Tail Gunner 42‑30043⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
6⇗ 4 July 1943 Target: Gnome et Rhone Aircraft Engine Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Le Mans, France 		Tail Gunner 42‑30065⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
8⇗ 14 July 1943 Target: Villacoublay Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Paris, France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑30065⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
9⇗ 24 July 1943 Target: Aluminum & Magnesium Plants
Type: Industry
Location: Herøya, Norway 		Tail Gunner 42‑30065⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
11⇗ 28 July 1943 Target: Aircraft Engine Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Kassel, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑30065⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
12⇗ 29 July 1943 Target: Naval Base
Type: Military
Location: Kiel, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑30065⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead Squadron deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
13⇗ 30 July 1943 Target: Aircraft Assembly Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Kassel, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑30065⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead. Landed away at Horham, AAF Station 119, on return with extensive battle damage, low fuel, and a wounded crewman.
Sortie Report⇗
14⇗ 12 August 1943 Target: Synthetic Fuel Hydrogenation Plant
Type: Industry
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany 		Tail Gunner 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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