Sellars, William Isaac

Individual Personnel Data
Name Sellars, William Isaac   ‡
⇗
Rank Sergeant
Serial Number 19006437   ‡
Unit Assignments
  • Assigned to the 33rd Station Complement Squadron, per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #52 dated 18 March 1944, effective 18 March 1944.
  • Assigned to the 544th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #84 dated 5 May 1944., effective 5 May 1944.
Duty Radio Operator / Gunner
MOS757 - Radio Operator / Mechanic / Gunner, AAF
Last Duty Date 3 August 1944
Results Killed In Flying Accident
Final Resting Place or Memorial: Golden Gate National Cemetery, San Bruno: California
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 27 December 1922
  • SELLARS' birth certificate shows his last name was spelled SELLERS, but the Army apparently got it wrong initially, and no correction was made.
  • ASN amended from 19006473 to 19006437 on AAF Station 106 Special Orders #57 dated 25 March 1944.
  • Reclassified from MOS 552 (Control Tower Operator) to 757 (Radio Operator/Mechanic/Gunner,) on AAF Station 106 Special Orders #149 dated 27 July 1944.
  • He was killed with three others in a crash while 'slow-timing' a new engine near the airfield. Fog had set in during the flight and the pilots were not able to bring the aircraft down on the runway, instead crashing in a wooded area.
Related Documents Accident Report # 44-08-03-517⇓ (4.171 MB)



Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 8 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
157⇗ 13 July 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Munich / München, Germany 		Radio Operator 42‑97521⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41A Group.
Sortie Report⇗
159⇗ 17 July 1944 Target: Beautor Bridge
Type: Transportation
Location: Beautor, France 		Radio Operator 42‑97282⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Lead group. Turned back at 0850 hrs due to #2 runaway prop.
Sortie Report⇗
160⇗ 18 July 1944 Target: Rocket Research & Development Complex
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Peenemünde & Zinnowitz, Germany 		Radio Operator 42‑97282⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41A Group.
Sortie Report⇗
161⇗ 19 July 1944 Target: Hydrogen Peroxide Plant
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Höllriegelskreuth District, Pullach, Germany 		Radio Operator 42‑98000⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Lead group. Turned back due to low oxygen pressure.
Sortie Report⇗
162⇗ 20 July 1944 Target: Aircraft Plants
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Dessau, Germany 		Radio Operator 42‑97072⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Group, Low Squadron Deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
163⇗ 21 July 1944 Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Schwäbisch Hall, Germany 		Radio Operator 42‑37982⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Lead group. Turned back over England because he could not locate formation after taking off late - navigator had overslept, and in his report stated he had difficulty performing navigation tasks.
Sortie Report⇗
164⇗ 24 July 1944 Target: Tactical - Enemy Strong Points
Type: Military
Location: La Chapelle en Juger & Hébécrevon, France 		Radio Operator 42‑97072⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead group hot camera ship.
Sortie Report⇗
165⇗ 25 July 1944 Target: Tactical - Enemy Strong Points
Type: Military
Location: Montreuil-sur-Lozon, Le Châtel,
& La Chapelle en Juger, France 		Radio Operator 42‑102566⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Group, Low Squadron Deputy. Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑97072.
Sortie Report⇗
166⇗ 28 July 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil & Chemical Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany 		Radio Operator 42‑97320⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High section lead, lead group.
Sortie Report⇗
167⇗ 29 July 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil & Chemical Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany 		Radio Operator 42‑97072⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
168⇗ 31 July 1944 Target: Aero Engine Factory
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Munich / München, Germany 		Radio Operator 42‑102661⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead Group Hot Camera Ship.
Sortie Report⇗
-- 3 August 1944 None
Non-combat sortie 		Radio Operator 42‑107224⇗ Crashed when unable to locate runway, after fog and darkness occurred, while slow-timing new engines.
Sortie Report⇗

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