William   H  MERRIAM

 

merriam william h

Source : Clement Christophe Facebook.com/groupenationalrecheche.wwii

NUMBER OF SERVICEO-399678
AGE27 yo
DATE OF BIRTHMay 12, 1917 in Lethbridge, CANADA  drap cana
ETATFullerton, CALIFORNIA
FAMILYMarried
RANKColonel
FONCTIONPilot
JOB BEFORE ENLISTEMENT StudentCA
DATE of ENLISTEMENT1939
 COMPANYHeadQuarter Company
 GROUP406th Fighter  Group
ARMY9th US Air Corps
DATE OF DEATH3 june 1944

merriam william h tombe

Source : F Lavernhe

STATUSKIA
PLACE OF DEATHLa carrière St Christophe - St-Leu-d'Esserent
DATA PLAN

P-47 Thunderbolt - type D-10-RE - s/n 42-75083

P47 406th

Macr: 6189

Mission: Creil et Chantilly (60) 

Take Off:  Station 417 Ashford, Kent UK

Crash observed by 2Lt Bryant L CRAMER and 2Lt Bryce E. LONG

Shot by the flak (direct hit in the fuel tank) 

merriam william h crasch

Crash and explosion around 14:30

COMMUNAL CEMETERY

Cemetery Communal of St Leu d'Esserent

merriam william cem

CEMETERY TEMPORARY 

Cemetery Temporary of Blosville N°3508

blosville

Story of Cemetery Temporary
CEMETERYNORMANDY AMERICAN CEMETERY of Colleville

Map of Normandy American Cemetery

GRAVE
PlotRowGrave
D1847
DECORATION

Air Medal + OLC

Purple Heart

World War II Victory Medal

Brevet Pilot

 

am olc

Photo FDLM

victory medal

combat infantryman badge

 

usaf 9af 406fg 406th fg
STORY

William Horton MERRIAM (Bill) was born May 12, 1917 in Lethbridge, Canada.
At that time his parents were farmers

The Merriam family emigrated to the United States, and settled in Fullerton, California.

William carried out brilliant scientific studies at the California University Campus of Berkley,
he graduated in 1939 and decided to join the Army Air Corps to become a fighter pilot

His training goes through the bases of Hancok Field in Santa Maria, then Randolph and Kelly Field in Texas.

In April 1941, when the U.S.A. was not at war, he was chosen with 11 other pilots to learn Luftwaffe combat techniques from the RAF.

The group will be received at Buckingham Palace.

 

 The Groupenationalrecherche Wwii association in 2013 worked on the crash in St leu Desserent (Oise)! his story and the following:

Saturday June 3, 1944, at 2:30 p.m., an American P-47 landed at a place called "the St-Christophe quarry" near RD92 in Saint-Leu-d'Esserent, the pilot was Major William H. MERRIAM.

On June 3, 1944 during a reconnaissance mission n ° 24 attacked the rail traffic on the sectors of Louvres (95) in Creil and Chantilly - Senlis, the P47 D 42-75083, and shot down by the Flak on a direct hit on the reservoir, the enemy air defense and positioned at the edge of the Oise, on the locality of St-Maximin.

The body will be found inside the device, it will be taken to the town cemetery and buried! Despite the ban by the German authorities, a large part of the population of St-Leu attended the funeral of the young pilot and the coffin was covered with numerous bouquets.

At the end of 1944 the body of the American colonel will be buried temporarily in the temporary cemetery of Blosville (Manche).

William H. MERRIAM now rests in the American military cemetery ABMC Normandy: Plot D, Row 18, Grave 47

merriam william h

Source : Charles Lewis Beal


SOURCE INFORMATION & PHOTOFrancecrashes39-45.net - Frédéric LAVERNHE - Findagrave.comGroupenationalrecherche Wwii - Facebook
PROGRAMMERFrédéric & Renaud
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Comments  
# Search for Information on this SoliderJohn Manly 2021-03-24 20:22
Hello, my name is John Manly, I am currently a student at George Washington University but originally from Orange County. I am undertaking a research project on this soldier, with the eventual intention of performing a eulogy over his grave in Normandy. Please let me know if you or anyone you know has information pertaining to his life or service. It would be an honor to learn more about this pilot who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our liberties. You can reach me at my email at johncmanly5@gmail.com
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