Erick, Beckham, OK -- SSgt Billy W. Morgan Killed in Action - WWII
   
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Submitted by David W. Morgan - dmorgan@efn.org
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     Staff Sergeant Billy W. Morgan Killed in Action over Romania
                                      
   Staff Sergeant Billy Wayne Morgan, 20 year old son of Mr. and Mrs.
   French Morgan, living one mile south of Erick, has been reported
   killed while participating in a bombing raid over Romania in Europe,
   according to information received by his parents from the War
   Department Tuesday.
   
   Mrs. Morgan received the following telegram:
   
   The Secretary of the War Department desires me to express his deep
   regret that your son, Staff Sergeant Billy W. Morgan, was killed in
   defense of his country on April 4, over Romania.
   Letter follows.
   Dunlop_Actg. Adjutant General.
   
   Sgt. Morgan was a ball turret gunner on a b-24 Liberator bomber and
   flew with a veteran group of the 15th Army Air Force in Italy. He was
   apparently the only crew member killed in the plane as one of his
   close buddies, Leo K. Bitting, known to have been one of the same
   crew, wrote a letter to Mr. and Mrs. Morgan, stating that they had
   done everything possible for him.
   
   Sgt. Morgan was a graduate of Erick High school with the class of '41.
   Following his enlistment in the Air Corps on November 3, 1942, he
   underwent training and received his silver gunner's wings. He left the
   states in December, 1943 for combat duty.
   
   Arriving in North Africa December 19, he was sent to Italy where he
   continued his base of operations until his death. His first combat
   mission was the Viterbo Airdrome at Rome.
   
   Sgt. Morgan has one brother, Corporal Donald Morgan, who is in England
   with the Medical Corps.
   
   A memorial service is being planned for the boy, to be held about the
   25th of May and Army Chaplain D.D. Barber, former Erick pastor, is
   expected to officiate.
   
   [ Beckham County Democrat, April 27, 1944 ]