2ND Lt. WILLIAM A. MEARS, JR., O-735629 KIA NBD
2ND LIEUTENANT WILLIAM A. MEARS, JR., 0-735629 KIA NBD US Army Air Corps. Lieutenant Mears graduated from Haverhill High School in 1936 where he served as football manager. He was a member of the John Greenleaf Whittier Chapter of DeMolay. He attended Luscombe Air School, Trenton, New Jersey, and Phillips Andover Academy. Lieutenant Mears was then employed by the General Aircraft Corp. as an aviation technician. He enlisted in the Air Corps April 20, 1942, as an aviation cadet receiving training at Santa Ana, Cal. ; Dos Palos, Cal.; Chico, Cal., and Stockton, Cal., where he received his wings. In April, 1943, he flew his B-25 from Savannah, Ga., to Townsville, Australia. He served in the Bomber Command Replacement Center 5th Air Force. His mission there consisted of ferrying bombers between bases in Australia. On June 27, 1943, his plane collided with another, about five miles from his base and he was killed instantly. He leaves his parents, Mr. and Mrs. William A. Mears, Sr., of 86 Boardman St., Haverhill Massachusetts and one brother.
1- Haverhill Massachusetts – Haverhill in World War Two