William Henry Harrison Jr (“Little Bill”) was the son of William Henry Harrison Sr. and Nellie LaRue Myers.
William Henry Harrison Jr. enlisted in the Army Air Corps, 1942, was commissioned in 1943, left foreign service, Feb. 22, 1944. While on a bombing mission, his plane was hit near Chataudum, France, March 23, 1944. He attended McCallie School in Chattanooga, Chattanooga High School, was a member of the Kappa Alpha Fraternity, Emory University.
He was christened as William Henry Harrison, the third, in direct succession of the Harrison family. His forebears were pioneers in the state, making their homes in Cock, Green, Hamblen and Jefferson Counties.. Lt Harrison was the son of Dr. W.H. Harrison, superintendent of the Morristown District of the Holston Conference and Mrs. Harrison (Miss Nelle Myers)
2nd Lieutenant William H. Harrison O-671355 US Army Air Forces was assigned to the 728th Bomber Squadron, 452nd Bomber Group, Heavy, a B-17 squadron flying out of Deopham Green, England. The B-17 he was on did not return from a mission to Chateaudun on the 28th of March 1944. And a Finding of Death was given. He is remembered on the Tablets of the Missing Brittany American Cemetery, St James, France. Memorial Marker, Union Cemetery, Newport, TN.
Awards include the Air Medal and the Purple Heart
Crew members of aircraft B-17 with serial number 42-97200, nickname Kickapoo Joy Juice:
Pilot, 1st Lt Charles J. Robinson
Co-Pilot, 2nd Lt Clifford Downen
Navigator, 2nd Lt Charles W. Morgan
Bombardier, 2nd Lt William H Harrison
Top Turret Gunner, S/Sgt Melvin H. Baughman
Radio Operator/Gunner, S/Sgt Conrad N. Desmarias
Ball Turret Gunner, Sgt Oscar McClure
Left Gunner, S/Sgt Morris W. Anderson
Right Gunner, S/Sgt William H. Abbott
Tail gunner, Dallas P. Oliver
Photo courtesy of Daniel Bon
- Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Date of birth: 10 July 1920
- Date of death: 28 March 1944
- County: Washington
- Hometown: Johnson City
- Service Branch: Army/Army Air Forces
- Division/Assignment: 728th Bomber Squadron, 452nd Bomber Group, Heavy
- Theater: Europe
- Conflict: World War II
- Battles: Air Offensive, Europe (4 jul 1942-5 jun 1944)
- Awards: Air Medal, Purple Heart
- Burial/Memorial Location: Brittany American Cemetery, St. James (Manche), France
- Location In Memorial: Pillar XIX, Middle Panel
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