Ironton, OH
Jan 6, 1995

Sir:

I am the older brother of William R. Chinn and hope I can furnish the info you need.

William Roger Chinn was born Sept. 7, 1921, at Ironton, OH, the son of Edward H. and Eloise N. Chinn. He graduated from Ironton High School in 1939 and went into the Army Air Corps thereafter. He attended bombardier and Norden bomb-sight school at Lowery Field, Denver, CO, and was assigned to the 33rd Bomb Squadron at Langley Field, VA. At the outbreak of WW2, his squadron was transferred to March Field, where they were training when the crash occurred.

In spite of his less-than-exalted rank (PFC), he was the bombardier on that crew. When most bombardiers were commissioned in Feb. 1942, our mother tried to get his commission, but was denied as causing too much red tape.

His body (or another of the crew) is buried in the Woodland Cemetery, Ironton, in the Veteran's Plot next to his uncle -- my namesake -- who was killed in WW1.

While not a combat casualty, his was the first death in our county after the war started.

I hope this is enough info for you to complete your project. If not, feel free to contact me by mail or collect phone call.

Sincerely,

Albert H. Chinn