1st  Lieutenant WILLIAM F. GAVIN, O808533 KIA

1st  Lieutenant WILLIAM F. GAVIN, O-808533 KIA, Army Air Force.  Lieutenant Gavin graduated from Haverhill High School in 1935 and was then employed by the L. H. Hamel Leather Company. He enlisted in the Air Corps on October 11, 1940. For training he was assigned to Westover Field, Mass; New England Aircraft School; Machine Gun School at Langley Field, Va., and Las Vegas, Nevada. As an aerial engineer he ferried bombers from Pendleton Field, Oregon, to Hawaii. On his return he passed his examinations for flying cadet and received his wings at Seymour Field, Ind. He was shipped overseas as a B-17 pilot on May 14, 1944, but before leaving he came over his home and circled it, dipping his wings. He served oversees with the 570 Bombardment Squadron 390 Bombardment Group (Heavy), 8th Army Air Force. After several missions over Germany his plane crashed on June 11, 1944 in the English Channel, his body was never recovered. Eight of the crew bailed out but he was not one of them. He leaves his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Gavin, of 13 Doane St., five sisters, and three brothers.

1st  Lieutenant WILLIAM F. GAVIN, O-808533 KIA, Army Air Force.  Lieutenant Gavin graduated from Haverhill High School in 1935 and was then employed by the L. H. Hamel Leather Company. He enlisted in the Air Corps on October 11, 1940. For training he was assigned to Westover Field, Mass; New England Aircraft School; Machine Gun School at Langley Field, Va., and Las Vegas, Nevada. As an aerial engineer he ferried bombers from Pendleton Field, Oregon, to Hawaii. On his return he passed his examinations for flying cadet and received his wings at Seymour Field, Ind. He was shipped overseas as a B-17 pilot on May 14, 1944, but before leaving he came over his home and circled it, dipping his wings. He served oversees with the 570 Bombardment Squadron 390 Bombardment Group (Heavy), 8th Army Air Force. After several missions over Germany his plane crashed on June 11, 1944 in the English Channel, his body was never recovered. Eight of the crew bailed out but he was not one of them. He leaves his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Gavin, of 13 Doane St., five sisters, and three brothers.

 

1- Haverhill Massachusetts – Haverhill  in World War Two

2- https://www.dpaa.mil/portals/85/WWIIAccounting/wwii_una_MASSACHUSETTS_20200124.pdf