2nd Lieutenant David Shepard Williams (#O-2058324) was born 6 July 1924 to Thomas V and Eleanor W (nee Rankin) Williams in Medford, Oregon. He is the oldest of 5 children. He enlisted 4 December 1942 in Eugene, Oregon.

After enlisting in the Army Air Corps, he eventually ended up as part of 351th Bomb Squadron, 100th Bomber Group, Heavy. The crew joined the 100th Bomber Group at Thorpe Abbotts Field, England 28 October 1944. On 10 January 1945, Flying B-17 #42-37936, nicknamed “The All American Girl”, they were on a mission to Cologne. They were hit by flak and it is unclear whether they crashed near Gladbach, 7 miles east-southeast of Dueren, Germany or into the North Sea.

They are commemorated on the “Wall of the Missing” at Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial in Coton, South Cambridge shire District, Cambridge shire, England.

The crew:

Dodrill, John J, 2nd Lieutenant, Pilot, CA

Williams, David Shepard, 2nd Lieutenant, Copilot, OR

Bayer, Ralph William, 1st Lieutenant, Navigator, WA – replacement for John D Gross

Pitman, David Warren, Sergeant, Bombardier, MA – replacement for Melvin D Snyder

Bennett, George Raymond, Staff Sergeant, Radio Operator/Gunner, TN

Mitchell, Harry E, Staff Sergeant, Top Turret Gunner/Eng, SC

Warner, Myron Eugene, Sergeant, Ball Turret Gunner, KS

Joseph, Garland Lee, Sergeant, Waist Gunner, IL

Toll, Roy Everett, Sergeant, Tail Gunner, OR

David S Williams