William “Bill” Hatcher Beaver was born in Delano, Tennessee. He was the son of Edwin Heller Beaver and Mary Elizabeth Pannell.
1st Lieutenant William H. Beaver was assigned to the 868th Bomber Squadron, Heavy, 13th Air Force Far East Command. At the time of his loss the Squadron was flying B-24’s out of Noemfoor Island, New Guinea. He was killed in action on 21 April 1945 and is listed on the Tablets of the Missing, Manila American Cemetery, Manila, Philippines.
The airplane´s (B-24) destination was Makassar Straits Celebes in Indonesia. The plane was hit by enemy fighters and crashed with bombing load into the water about 6 miles from Makassar Town.
Crew members
Pilot, 1st Lt William H. Beaver
Co-Pilot, F/O Arthur C. Resech
Navigator, 1st Lt Bert E. Kullerstrand
Bombardier, 1st Lt Wynn W. Eldredge
Engineer, T/Sgt Nathan Quicksilver
Assistant Engineer, S/Sgt William P. McCarthy
Radio Operator, T/Sgt Robert R. Rejo
Radar Operator, Sgt Napoleon J. Krawczyk
Gunner, Sgt Henry P. Ptak
Gunner, Sgt Charles W. Lever
Polk County News, May 17, 1945
First Lt. William H. (Bill) Beaver, 25, brother of Ed Beaver of Lenoir City, Tenn., and son of the late Mrs. Mary Beaver, was reported killed in action April 21, over Celebes Island in the southwest pacific. Bill was nearing the end of his missions and was hoping to be home soon. His last visit home was last Augusut.
He had been awarded the Air Medal and had been commissioned for the Distinguished Flying Cross. Lt. Beaver’s plane had been shot knocking out two mothers. He had been across nine months and a year previously.
- Rank: First Lieutenant
- Date of birth: 15 July 1919
- Date of death: 21 April 1945
- County: Polk
- Hometown: Delano
- Service Branch: Army/Army Air Forces
- Division/Assignment: 868th Bomber Squadron, Heavy
- Theater: Pacific
- Conflict: World War II
- Awards: Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart
- Burial/Memorial Location: Manila American Cemetery, Fort Bonifacio, Manila, Philippines
- Location In Memorial: Pillar XVI, Middle Panel
- Contact us to sponsor William H. Beaver
Image Gallery
Click a thumbnail below to view at full size.
