Serviceman

William P Vandendries

815threturned to dutypilotPilot

Play his story on the map built from his record

Army serial number: O-801158
Rank: 2LT (14 June 1944), 1LT (3 September 1945)
Hometown: BROOKLYN NY; Brooklyn NY; Brooklyn, NY
Also written: William Vandendries
In the book: Heroes of the 483rd, p. 194, 246
Sources: 483bg-record, assoc-roster, heroes-book, macr-crew · service record at 483bg.org

Crews

James V. Reardon Commanding Officer · 815th
William P. Vandendries Crew, pilot · 815th

Awards

Date	Award	General order	Rank then
14 June 1944	Air Medal	1032	2LT
3 September 1945	Silver Star	3698	1LT

From the general orders indexed by the Army Air Corps Library and Museum.

Aboard a lost aircraft

MACR 6980 · 42-102927 Bunky · 18 July 1944 · mission 51, 18 July 1944 · RTD

Statements, mentions and histories

Eyewitness statement, page 11 · 18 July 1944

CONFIDENTIAL
I saw Lt. VandenDriest Ship # 927 as it was slining out of our
box in a two O'Clock direction, dropping very fast but seemingly under
control and in a cliding attitude. Flame was very evident beneath the
Fuselage and it 3 engine. It got out of my field of view when our right
wing obscured my vision. Ne was dropping down rather fast and :. W.
190's were makin : passes at him. I didn't see anymore.
s/
Henry R. Gajda
t/
MENRY R. GAJDA
2nd Lt. Air Corps
Co-Pilot
0-759362
Ship #42-32041
#
A TRUE COPY "
W.LCh
W. L. LINN,
L'ajor, Air Corps.
1.3

National Archives, MACR 6980, page 11 · Machine-read from microfilm, uncorrected.

27 more statements from MACR 6980 are on the loss record.

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