Ray Donald WILLIAMSON

Parents : Kit Carson & Lula May Jenkins Williamson

Siblings : Delburn Irving, Robert Cedric, Blanche, Irene H, Marvin Clyde & Thelma Jean

Source : brewerlunnen

 B-26 Marauder - type B-30-MA - s/n 41-31889 AN*D

Macr : 1047

Mission: V1 rocket site in Mimoyecques/Marquise (62)

Take-off station 164 Great Dunmow (Little Easton), Essex UK - Bodies first buried at Marquise (62)

Hit by flak before target around 2:00 p.m.

Fractured wing just abreast the left engine nacelle, and severed tail

CEMETERY TEMPORARY of Marquise (62) puis à St André N°3572

Story of Cemetery Temporary 

Map of Normandy American Cemetery

Source : brewerlunnen

Ray D Williamson of Oregon was killed in action while on a bombing mission over France against V-1 rocket sites. He was the pilot of a B-26 Marauder.

The mission Friday, November 5, 1943- 386th Bomb Group Mission Number 38 consisted of 36 aircraft all armed with two, one thousand pound general purpose bombs armed with tail fuses only with a five second delay.

The target was known as Z790 and was identified as Excavation Number "8" The 36 aircraft were flying in a two box formation. The lead aircraft, flown by Colonel Maitland was off the runway at 1210 hrs, and the remaining 35 aircraft followed in 30 second intervals.

When arriving on target the planes of the 386th began catching heavy type flak. the planes were on a forty-five second bomb runinto the target. The heading was 340 degrees, air speed 190 m.p.h, bomb bay doors open. Lead Bombadier Lieutenant James Dunn line up the target in his Norden Bomb Sight. He was using the synchronized method that incorporated preset drift and dropping angle.

There was moderate to heavy flak, some big pink bursts were observed among the primarily large black bursts. Dunn released his bombs at 1347 hours from 10,000 feet. All other planes in his box dropped on his cue. One of the heavy type flak shells scored a direct hit under the aft section of Captain R. D. Williamson's ship 131889 AN-D . The aircraft broke in half at the dorsal area.

One man was seen to fall from the stricken plane, but nobody saw if his parachute opened. The after fuselage with its complete tail assembly attached, flipped end over end with an open parachute canopy wrapped around the tail unit. The front portion of the airplane went into a violent spin all the way down until it crashed and burned.

The bomber had been flying in the first box of eighteen, number four position of the high flight. The Williamson crew: Captain R.D. Williamson, Pilot; Second Lieutenants J.E. Davis Co-pilot; R.S. Hoffman Bombardier/Navigator; Tech Sergeant C. L. Solomon R/G; Staff Sergeants J. Brusman E/G; and R.D Evans A/G were listed as KIA. Fourteen of the other 386th Group aircraft were battle damaged, three men had been wounded by flak.

Source : Fold 3

 Previously R.D. Williamson flying a plane called "Two-Way Ticket" 131602 AN-T on the Groups very first bombing mission which took place on July 30, 1943 lost a left side engine on take off and crashed a mile off the end of the runway.

The aircraft was torn to pieces, but the crew survived with cuts and bruises. Captain Williamson had sustained the most severe injury ---a broken finger. Chester P. Klier Historian, 386th Bomb Group Captain Ray D. Williamson's name is listed on the bronze plaque listing 42 members of the 386th Bomb Group who were killed in action flying from England during the 386ths time there.

His name is also on the black granite plaque listing WWII service members from Linn County Oregon who were killed in action which is located at the Linn County Veterans Memorial in Timber Linn Memorial Park, Albany, Oregon

Source : Fold 3

Twin Oaks Memorial Gardens
Albany, Linn County, OREGON

Source : Patty C

Parents : Kit Carson & Lula May Jenkins Williamson

Siblings : Delburn Irving, Robert Cedric, Blanche, Irene H, Ray D & Thelma Jean