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William Burwell Edwards 1915 - 1944

William Burwell Edwards of Anniston, Alabama United States was born on June 21, 1915 in Anniston, and had a brother Richard H Edwards. William Edwards died at age 28 years old on June 13, 1944 in International Waters.

William Burwell Edwards

Son

Anniston, Alabama United States

June 21, 1915

Anniston, Alabama, United States

June 13, 1944

International Waters

Male

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William Burwell Edwards William Edwards (1915 - 1944)

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William Burwell Edwards' History: 1915 - 1944

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06/21

1915

Birthday

June 21, 1915

Birthdate

Anniston, Alabama United States

Birthplace

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06/13

1944

Death

June 13, 1944

Death date

His B-24 D1, lead bomber on a mission to bomb Japanese positions in Yap Island was seen on fire in the ocean 30 degrees north of the equator at about 9:00 pm in severe weather. No survivors were found. It was not determined if the plane was brought down by enemy fire or internal aircraft problems.

Cause of death

International Waters
Death location

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2 Memories, Stories & Photos about William

John Edwards

16 favorites

10/31/2023

2 Lt. William Burwell Edwards

2 Lt. Edwards "Son" after bombardier School. He was deployed to New Guinea, 5th Army Air Force, 43 Bombardment Group (Heavy), 64th Bombardment Squadron (H).

Date & Place: Not specified or unknown.

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John Edwards

16 favorites

10/31/2023

Son of Mrs. Virginia Edwards, he grew up in Los Angeles, California at a rented duplex at 915 S. Lucerne and had a brother, Richard Harbin Edwards who was two years younger.

Bill, or "Son" as he was also called, attended Los Angeles High School and UCLA where he "Majored in Sorority and minored in Fraternity." His cousin Virginia said he showed her LA night life and knew all the band members and the latest dance steps. He was 6 feet tall, weighed 195 had blue eyes, blond hair and resembled the movie star, Van Johnson.

William, a Second Lieutenant, served as the Bombardier on B-24D Liberator tail #42-72811, 64th Bombardment Squadron, 43rd Bombardment Group (Heavy), 5th Air Force, U.S. Army Air Forces, Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II.

B-24D #42-72811 took off, with a crew of 11 from Nadzab Airfield, Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea and staged from Mokerang in the Admiralty Islands on a strike mission to Yap Island, Caroline Islands, Micronesia. Other B-24's reported B-24D #42-72811 as bursting into flames and crashing into the sea near the equator on route to Yap.

William was declared "Missing In Action" in this crash during the war.

He was awarded the Air Medal with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster and the Purple Heart. Service # O-688325

He also has a memorial brick at the Wayfarer's Chapel (Glass Church) in Palos Verdes, CA and at Veteran's Park in Redondo Beach, CA.

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