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| Captain William Libbert earned the DFC while serving in the 499th Fighter-Bomber Squadron. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/42411462/william-maynard-libbert https://www.pinterest.com/pin/557461260095549281/?lp=true https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distinguished_Flying_Cross_(United_States) |
William Maynard Libbert never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.
He was born on February 13, 1919 in Indiana. His parents Will and Nilam were also both born in Indiana. His paternal grandparents were from Germany. His father worked as a farmer and later as a thresherman. William had two older sisters. By 1940 William had completed three years of college. He graduated from Evansville College one year later.
He enlisted in the Army Air Forces on January 13, 1942. He became a captain in the 305th Bombardment Squadron that was renamed the 499th Fighter-Bomber Squadron (in August 1943), 85th Fighter-Bomber Group. He flew A-24 Banshee dive-bombers before his unit was re-equipped with A-36 Mustangs (the ground attack version of the P-51) in early 1943. Captain Libbert successfully completed 80 combat missions in North Africa, Sicily, and Italy that included shooting down one German plane. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.
Captain Libbert was sent state-side to serve as a flight instructor. On March 25, 1944 the P-47 he was flying collided in midair with a Navy plane. Both pilots perished.
His grave is at Rose Hill Cemetery in Newburgh, Indiana.
Last year on this date I profiled Paul Tulloch, USS Canopus. You can read about Paul here.
On behalf of the fallen, if you would like to see more people become aware of this project to honor the WW2 fallen, be sure to share with others on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Thanks for your interest!
I created this video to explain why I started this project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY.
Please consider joining the public Facebook group to increase the exposure of this project. Go to: WW2 Fallen 100
The A-36A was called "Mustang" officially by the USAAF and by North American Aviation.
ReplyDeleteCheck it out in several reliable sources to verify my Comment above.
I NOT way am I trying to take away the debt of gratitude that we owe such a fine American serviceman. My family is fortunate that Dad came back in one piece, unscratched, from Guam after the War was over. It saddens me to NO end, that this fine pilot and so many others met their end in a training accident or other situation far removed from combat.
RIP, Sir!