Lt Morton; Morton, William C. "Mort", Jr., Capt, pilot (0-760894) (Capt Mar/Apr 45)(425 E Lafayette, Fayetteville AR)(NARA - 18096337 MORTON#WILLIAM#C#JR# AR WASHINGTON MUSKOGEE OK 42)

43-27506 REBEL DEVIL;crashed rescued 27 Jan 45; Saturday, 27 January 1945 HQ 321st BG War Diary: Missions to Lavis and Ala were both abortive due to route weather. The twelve ship nickeling mission dropped at one point then had to return because of the weather. Lt. Morton’s entire crew bailed out on our front lines when an engine cut out and the plane was losing altitude and flying instruments in the mountains.

447th BS Mission Summary (Ops Order 697/mission 697) Group Mission # 697: We also had 3 planes on a nickeling mission. Just as the nickels were away the planes received flak. Lt. Morton and crew, consisting of F/O Greene, Lt. Lankester, Sgt. Flanigan, Sgt. Ruiz, S/Sgt. Klimkowicz, in plane 506 had trouble after crossing back into friendly territory and bailed out. All reports are that all members are safe with 5th Army. Lt. Appenzeller who was also on the Nickeling Mission returned over the home field only to find that his hydraulic system was out of order. His wheels came down but failed to lock. After circling the field in order to expend his fuel supply he made a belly landing. All crew members escaped injury, but the plane is a complete wreck.

Morton, William C. “Mort”, Jr., 1Lt, pilot, 447th BS

A/C No. 43-27506 Tail # ? “Rebel Devil” (crashed)

P Morton, William C. “Mort”, Jr., 1Lt

CP Greene, Homer L., Jr., F/O

N None

B Lankester, Hugh H. “Lank”, 1Lt

E Flanigan, Bernard A., Sgt

R Ruiz, Emigdio (NMI), Sgt

G Klimkowicz, Zigmond (NMI), S/Sgt

William C Morton Jr