1LT. William Stanley McMillan was a Pilot with the 12th Air Force; 310th Bombardment Group; 428th Bombardment Squadron; and was stationed in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations, (MTO).

His Hometown was Cobleskill, Schoharie County, New York. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with 7 Oak Leaf Clusters.

428th BS War Diary

On the 9th of June (1945), a tragic accident occurred. Two of the group's planes fell into the water off the end of the runway and were destroyed during the night flying training program. One of the ships was a 428th craft, piloted by 1st Lts. William S. McMillan and Walter D. McLean. Both were killed, and their bodies recovered and buried with military honors a few days later.

The other pilots were luckier, and after fifteen or twenty minutes of swimming around, were rescued by a boat. The saved pilots were from the 381st Squadron.

June 09, 1945

Shortly after midnight, 1st Lts. McMillan and McLean took off on a regular night training flight and crashed into the water off the end of the runway. Their plane burned in shallow water. They were not picked up so far.

Another aircraft from the 381st, taking off a short time after them also mushed into the water, but both pilots from that ship were rescued within fifteen minutes. Cause of both accidents is so far undetermined

June 13, 1945

Funeral services were held today for Lts. McMillan and McLean. Lt. McLean's body was not recovered until the night before the funeral.

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Lts. McMillan and McLean were killed in the Crash of B-25J; Serial No. 43-36226

450609; B-25J; Serial No. 43-36226; 428BS; 310BG; 12; KCRT; 4; McMillan, William S; ITA; Fano

The OTHER PLANE Which Crashed that day:

450609; B-25J; Serial No. 43-4044; 381BS; 310BG; 12; CRT; 4; Brady, Thomas J; ITA; Fano

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https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/138356962

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56312061/william-s-mcmillan

William S McMillan