Memorials › Lieut William George Merchen

Lieut William George Merchen

25 Sep 1915 – 10 Feb 1995

Birth	25 Sep 1915
Death	10 Feb 1995
Cemetery	San Joaquin Valley National Cemetery Santa Nella , Merced County , California , USA
Added by	Vern Hixson on 12 Feb 2022
FaG	https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/48498013

Bio

Enlisted 21 March 1941 at Los Angeles. William was listed as an apprentice in "construction or other hand trades", with two years of high school. Listed as involved in an aviation accident at Luke Field, Arizona, of a P-40F aircraft on 15 August 1943. Listed as Co-Pilot of a B-17G bomber in the 349th Squadron, under pilot Lt. Walter Bailey. Their first mission was flown on 14 August 1944. Bombed Ludwigshafen, Germany on 25 September 1944, William's birthday; temperature on the plane was 43 degrees below zero at 25,700 feet. "Bill" was wounded in action on 15 October 1944 in bombing of Cologne. The plane suffered over 100 flak hits on that mission. William had to be removed from the chair, unable to continue. It appears to have been his 22nd mission completed, with two other missions aborted due to mechanical problems. William, and his wife Luella, were injured in a traffic accident in 1948, as passengers in a car.

Photos

Family

Parents

• John Merchen 1864–1959
• Rebecca Mayer Merchen 1878–1966

Spouse

• Luella Margaret Draper Merchen 1918–1995

Siblings

• Justina S Merchen 1897–1903
• Olga Merchen 1898–1903
• Henry Merchen 1901–1988

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