Harrell, William Jessup

US volunteers RAF/RCAF

Date of birth:: July 26th, 1920 (Eastman/Georgia, United States)
Date of death:: June 30th, 1942 (Noordwolde, The Netherlands)
Buried on:: Commonwealth War Graves Protestant Cemetery Noordwolde
Plot: G. Row: 1. Grave: 1.
Service number:: R/83419
Nationality:: American (1776 - present, Republic)

Biography

William was born on July 26 1920 in Eastman, Georgia, USA., the son of Luke C. Harrell and Sarah Ann Harrell nee Satuway (both Americans) of Eastman.

He was a student and member of the Baptist Church. He spoke English well and Spanish fair. His sports were football, basketball, track and softball.

He enlisted on February 20 1941 in Windsor Ontario and the date is unknown when he went thereafter overseas to the UK.

William was killed in action on Tuesday June 30 1942 age 21, just a month before his 22nd birthday due to a crash near Noordwolde 16 km southeast of Heerenveen before or after an attack on Bremen in Germany. The other fallen RCAF crew members were W/O James Bell age 27 in grave G-1-3, F/Sgt Winston J. Dickinson age 25 in grave G-1-5 and F/Sgt Paul Oneson age 26 in grave G-1-8. The other fallen RAF Volunteer Reserve crew members were Sgt Walter P. Beare in grave G-1-4 and F/Sgt Reginald T. Adams age 21 in grave G-1-2. The other fallen RAF crew member was Sgt Alexander Simpson age 21 in grave G-1-7 and the other fallen RAAF crew member was P/O H.A. Echinn (served as Chinn) age 22 in grave G-1-6.

On his headstone: GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN

He was awarded on April 15 1946 posthumously the RCAF Operational Wings and Certificate of gallant service in action against the enemy.

He is mentioned with the other fallen crew members on a memorial at the cemetery and also at an information sign near the crash site.

He served with the 405 Sqdn Royal Canadian Air Force.

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