Willard Frank Ehr was born on May 16, 1917 in Milwaukee Wisconsin. He had enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces and served during World War II. Ehr had the rank of Staff Sergeant. Service number assignment was 16117719. Attached to 384th Bomber Group, Heavy, 546th Bomber Squadron as a Waist Gunner.

S/Sgt Willard Ehr joined the US Air Corps Army Reserve in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on November 24, 1942. He attended Washington High School for 4 years before he joined the service. He was married to Manette L Neuner and they had a son.

Sgt. Ehr lost his life on March 23, 1945. He was on the crew of the B-17G #43-39053 "Heavenly Body" during a mission to bomb the marshaling yards at Gladbeck, Germany when they left the formation over the target. They had received a direct flak burst and were on fire. They dropped down almost two miles in a spin, then exploded and crashed near Duisburg, Germany. Some of the men were able to bail out in time.

Willard Frank Ehr is buried at Plot B Row 28 Grave 15, Ardennes American Cemetery, Neupre, Belgium. This is an American Battle Monuments Commission location.

COMMENDATIONS

★ Air Medal

★ Purple Heart

4 casualties related to the #43-39053 incident on March 23, 1945.

Tail Gunner: Sgt. Delmar J Beesley, OH

Waist Gunner: S/Sgt. Willard F Ehr, WI

Radio Operator: Sgt. Max J. Fulton, NE

Ball Turret Gunner: Sgt. Ferdinand J Mendias, CA

Thank you for your supreme sacrifice in service to your country.

This story is part of the Stories Behind the Stars project (see www.storiesbehindthestars.org). This is a national effort of volunteers to write the stories of all 400,000+ of the US WWII fallen here on Fold3. Can you help write these stories? Related to this, there will be a smartphone app that will allow people to visit any war memorial or cemetery, scan the fallen's name and read his/her story.