Name and Rank, Corporal William Robert Yorio.
Unit/Placed in, 705th Bomber Squadron, 446th Bomber Group (Heavy).
William was born approx. on April 1916 in North Hempstead, New York.
Father, Gabriele A. Yorio.
Mother, Vincenza Yorio.
Parents born in Italy.
Sisters, Josephina A., Mechalina M., Mary E. and Rose Yorio.
Brothers, Anthony J. and James J. Yorio.
William entered the service from New York City with service number # 32890001.
William R. Yorio was a Tail Turret Gunner onboard a B-24 in the 705th Bomber Squadron.
William crewmembers and their position onboard the B-24 were,
2nd Lt. William N. Nunn Pilot
2nd Lt. Harrison K. Evans Co Pilot
2nd Lt. Raymond F. Mc Creary Navigator
2nd Lt. Walter S. Hern Jr. Bombardier
Sgt. Carleton C.Harrison Engineer/Top Turret Gunner
Sgt. Jesse J. Brown Jr. Radio Operator
Cpl. William R.Yorio Tail Turret Gunner
Cpl. Walter L. Linton Ball Turret Gunner
Cpl. Harold C. Hollingshead Right Waist Gunner
Cpl. Walter Homa Left Waist Gunner
William was KIA on the way back from the Mission when the plane was hit by FLAK, he bailed out but his chute failed to open, the plane crashed at Bergen-Op zoom, Netherlands on Aug 26, 1944, and he is honored with the Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, Army Presidential Unit Citation, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, WW II Victory Medal.
William is buried at Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial, Margraten,
Eijsden-Margraten Municipality, Limburg, Netherlands.
Thanks to http://www.446bg.com/
Jean Louis Vijgen, ww2-Pacific.com ww2-europe.com
Air Force Info, Rolland Swank.
ABMC Website, https://abmc.gov
Marines Info, https://missingmarines.com/ Geoffrey Roecker
Seabees History Bob Smith https://seabeehf.org/
Navy Info, http://navylog.navymemorial.org
POW Info, http://www.mansell.com Dwight Rider and Wes injerd.
Philippine Info, http://www.philippine-scouts.org/ Robert Capistrano
Navy Seal Memorial, http://www.navysealmemorials.com
Family Info, https://www.familysearch.org
WW2 Info, https://www.pacificwrecks.com/
Medals Info, https://www.honorstates.org
Medals Forum, https://www.usmilitariaforum.com/
Find a Grave, https://www.findagrave.com
Tank Destroyers, http://www.bensavelkoul.nl/
WordPress en/of Wooncommerce oplossingen, https://www.siteklusjes.nl/
Military Recovery, https://www.dpaa.mil/
Eyewitness notice;
Finally, on 26 August 1944, at 09.30 hours, an American bomber crashed five kilometers southeast of Bergen near Heimolen (south of the Fianestraat and the Huijbergse Baan). It was a B-24H of 446BG/705BS (registration number 42-95626, call sign HN-L), flown by 2nd Lt. William Nunn. The plane was on its way to Ludwigshafen when flak hit it directly in the bomb bay. More than two hours later, another B-24 would be shot down near Nispen. In the crash in Bergen op Zoom, the pilot, navigator 2 Lt. Raymond McReary and gunner Cpl. William Yorio were killed, but the rest of the crew managed to leave the aircraft in time.
These were, for starters, co-plioot 2nd Lt. Harry Evans, flight engineer Sgt. Carlton Harrison, radio telegraphist Sgt. Jesse Brown and the gunners Cpl. Walter Linton and Cpl. Harold Hollingshead. They were taken prisoner of war by the Germans. Otherwise it went with bomb aimer 2nd Lt. Walter Hearn and gunner Cpl. Walter Homa. They managed to stay out of the hands of the Germans. Walter Hearn found shelter with the Van de Boom family in Halsteren, while Walter Homa was brought to safety via the resistance.
Photo crew, standing from left to right: William Nunn; Harrison Evans; Raymond McReary; Walter Hearn. Kneeling: Carlton Harrison; Jesse Brown; Walter Linton; Harold Hollingshead; Walter Homa; William Yorio.