EARLY LIFE

William Clinton McKee III was born on August 15, 1922 in Butler, Richland, Ohio. His father was William Clinton McKee Jr. (1897-1929) born in Pennsylvania and mother was Thelma E. Moore McKee (1901-1980) born in Ohio. William and Thelma had four children: William C. III., Adelaide B., Arnold B. and John A. The family lived in Ohio, New Jersey and Washington D.C.. William Jr. was a graduate of the University of Michigan. He worked as a surveyor and a civil engineer. Sadly, he died at age 32. The 1930 U.S. Census shows young William III living with his Uncle Arnold B. Mckee and Aunt Georgeanna in Kansas City, Missouri. His widowed mother and siblings lived there too. The household consisted of 12 people. Uncle Arnold was a car salesman and owned some dealerships. The Uncle Arnold’s family moved to Washington D.C. few years later and William C. III was still living with Uncle Arnold and Aunt Georgeanna.

William graduated from High school and his records show that he was a protestant. His nickname was Bill.

MILITARY

William Clinton McKee III enlisted in Washington, District of Columbia on 6 February 1942. He served in the Army Air Forces during WW II. His service number was #0759386 and his rank was Captain. He reported to the ETO (European Theater of Operations) on June 15, 1944. McKee was attached to 306th Bomber Group, Heavy, 423rd Bomber Squadron. He was a pilot with the specialty of co-pilot.

DEATH

On October 22, 1944 Captain McKee was co-piloting a B-17 on a heavy bombing mission to Hannover, Germany over the North Sea.

"His plane, Aircraft No. 44-8099, with Pilot Alyea flying in lead position of high Squadron, collided with aircraft flying in #4 position of high Squadron, Pilot Nothis, and both planes went down with several crews reporting 5 chutes.

At the time of the accident weather was clear, visibility was excellent, and formation was good. The lead aircraft reduced speed while in gradual climb, as evidenced by radio conversation between lead aircraft and Lt H. Brown."

https://www.fieldsofhonor-database.com/index.php/en/american-war-ce...EATH

The collision was over the North Sea and killed at least 11 men were MIA (lost at sea). Their names are: 1st Lt Harry J. Alyea, 1st Lt Charles F. Hanler, Captain William Clinton McKee III, 1st Lt Charles E Mueller, T/Sgt Gilbert Terry, SSgt Donald W. Coleman, SSgt Robert Capps, SSgt Robert Capps, Ssgt Vincent E. Obrien, Ssgt Hastings S. Key, 2nd Lt Raymond Layfield.

POST DEATH EVENTS

Captain William C McKee III is memorialized at Tablets of the Missing at Netherlands American Cemetery, Margraten, Netherlands. This is an American Battle Monuments Commission location. He is also memorialized at the Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia, USA , PLOT SECTION MK SITE 216.

COMMENDATIONS

World War II Victory Medal

Distinguished Flying Cross

Air Medal

Purple Heart

United States Aviator Badge Army

American Campaign Medal

Army Presidential Unit Citation

Army Good Conduct Medal

European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign

SOURCES

https://www.americanairmuseum.com/media/23148

https://www.geni.com/people/Capt-William-McKee/6000000150975870849

https://www.fieldsofhonor-database.com/index.php/en/american-war-cemetery-margraten-m/64170-mc-kee-william-c-iii

Honorstates.org

Familysearch.org

Ancestry.com

Newspapers.com

Findagrave.com

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 saved on Together We

Served and 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.

This story was written by Kathleen Reber, a Stories Behind the Stars contributor.

William C McKee, III