1st Lieutenant George William “Bill” Denman, O-2069964 US Army Air Forces, was born on the 7th of May 1922 in Prescott, Arizona to Lural Almon Denman and Genevieve Irene Lindsey. He was enlisted at Fort Oglethorpe Georgia on 17th of May 1943, and was assigned as a Navigator, to the 861st Bomber Squadron, 493rd Bombardment Group Heavy, flying in a B-17, based out of Debach, England.
On the 30th of March 1945, the target was Hamburg, Germany, the 493rd Groups Mission #141. Flying aboard B-17G 43-39226 Lt Denman was killed in action this date. He was 22 years old. He is remembered on the Tablets of the Missing, Netherlands American Cemetery in Margraten.
Post-war statement of 1st Lt Martin Dwyer Jr.:
“Our plane was hit by enemy flak, caught on fire and blew up in mid-air. Our Pilot told me that he was the last man to clear the ship and claims that all the men in the nose of plane bailed out. Germans showed me subject’s dog tags and told me subject was dead.”
Crew members
Pilot, 1st Lt Martin Dwyer Jr.
Co-Pilot, 2nd Lt Carlton D. Williams
Navigator, 1st Lt George W. Denman
Bombardier, F/O Jerome Fruhling
Engineer, T/Sgt Herbert E. Overcash
Radio Operator, T/Sgt Grayson C. Barksdale
Ball Turret Gunner, S/Sgt Seymour Cohen
Waist Gunner, S/Sgt Herbert A. Brase
Tail Gunner, S/Sgt Walter E. Lowrey
ROM, T/Sgt Douglas W. Deacon
The Chattanooga Daily Times, 24 December 1944
An Eighth Air Force Bomber Station, England – Second Lt. George W. Denman, 22, of Copperhill, Tenn., now in England undergoing a pre-combat training period of 10 days with the 493rd Bombing Group commanded by Col. Elbert Helton of San Antonio, is preparing to take part in Eighth Air Force bombing attacks over Germany as navigator in a B-17 Flying Fortress. Already highly trained by the AAF in navigation at Selman Field, Monroe, La., Lt. Denman is not getting the benefit of the combat experience of veteran fliers. His course of instruction, conducted by men who have flown from five to seven months against the Germans, includes advice on how to conduct himself if he becomes a prisoner of war, how to administer first aid to his wounded comrades at high altitudes, how to contact air-sea rescue service on his radio, and what to do if is bomber crashes into the sea.
Son of Lural A. Denman of Copperhill, Tenn., Lt. Denman, a 1940 graduate of Copperhill High School, was a student at the University of Tennessee. He entered the AAF in February, 1943, and received his commission in September, 1944.
- Rank: First Lieutenant
- Date of birth: 7 May 1922
- Date of death: 30 March 1945
- County: Polk
- Hometown: Copperhill
- Service Branch: Army/Army Air Forces
- Division/Assignment: 861st Bomber Squadron, 493rd Bombardment Group, Heavy
- Theater: Europe
- Conflict: World War II
- Awards: Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart
- Burial/Memorial Location: Netherlands American Cemetery, Margraten, Netherlands
- Location In Memorial: Pillar XVI, Middle Panel
- Contact us to sponsor George W. Denman
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