John Allison Williams was the son of Robert L. Williams and Malinda Margaret Hoskins. He was graduated from the Frederick Army Air Field in Frederick, Oklahoma and received further training in Salt Lake City, Utah. From there he was sent to the Air Base at Casper. Lt. Williams had been interested in aviation for several years, learning to fly at the local air field under the tutelage of Robert Harris. He spent all of his spare time, even while attending school, at the local airport, and had flown sufficient hours before entering the service to obtain his solo and pilot’s license. He was a graduate of Morristown High School.
2nd Lt. Williams served with the 331st Combat Crew Training Squadron aboard B-24E Liberator #42-7066. His plane crash 20 miles northeast of the Army Air Field at Casper, Wyoming. Three officers and five enlisted men were killed.
Captain Charles W. Bley, Berkeley, California
Second Lieutenant Eugene E. Ravera, Newton, New Jersey
Second Lieutenant John A. Williams, Morristown, Tennessee
Staff Sergeant Carl Emmett Cleland, Sunbury, Ohio
Sergeant Vernon E. Arne, Stewart, Illinois
Sergeant George Peter Peterson, Perry, Ohio
Sergeant Duane T. Zetah, Cushing, Minnesota
Corporal Elmer L. Walters, Pawpaw, Illinois
The Knoxville Journal, March 7, 1944
Second Lt. John A. Williams, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert A. Williams, was killed in the crash of a heavy bomber at Casper Army Air Field Thursday, March 2. Funeral services Wednesday from First Baptist Church, Morristown. Burial in Jarnigan Cemetery.
Survivors: parents; sister, Mary Jane; brothers, Neil and Reese; grandparents, Mrs. Emma Williams, Mrs. A.M. Haskins, Knoxville; an aunt, Lucy Carr. Body will arrive in Morristown late Tuesday and will Be taken to the home of the parents on the Andrew Johnson Highway, where it will remain until time for services.
- Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Date of birth: 2 March 1924
- Date of death: 2 March 1944
- County: Hamblen
- Hometown: Morristown
- Service Branch: Army/Army Air Forces
- Division/Assignment: 331st Combat Crew Training Squadron
- Conflict: World War II
- Burial/Memorial Location: Emma Jarnagin Cemetery, Morristown, Hamblen County, TN
- Location In Memorial: Pillar X, Top Panel
- Contact us to sponsor John A. Williams
Image Gallery
Click a thumbnail below to view at full size.
