In Memory Of
S/SGT. WILLIAM FOSTER
Born June 11, 1917
Killed In Action Nov. 14, 1943
While Serving With The 310 Bomb Group
47 Wing In North Africa
From 3Fold by Ancestry Military Records
SSGT. William Newton Foster ~ Killed In Service ~ 14 November 1943
SSGT. William Newton Foster was a Radio Operator and Gunner with the 12th Air Force; 57th Bombardment Wing; 310th Bombardment Group; 379th Bombardment Squadron; stationed in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations (MTO)
His Hometown was Garwood, Colorado County, Texas.
Mission Report # , 14 November 1943 Target: Sea Search
379th BS War Diary: The only sad note of the month was struck on November 14th when one of our planes crashed, while flying locally, killing all of its crew who were as follows:
A/C B-25; No. 1 aircraft unidentified
P Minard, John C., 2Lt - DNB
CP Bennett, George E., 2Lt - DNB
N None
B Pyse, Walter (NMI), 2Lt - DNB
E Leeds, Floyd C., S/Sgt - DNB
R Foster, William N., S/Sgt - DNB
G Mead, Joseph D., Sgt - DNB F None
Crashed Near Tobruk, Libya
From US Gen Websites
S/SGT. WILLIAM NEWTON FOSTER
June 11, 1917 - November 14, 1943
Beneath two huge oak trees beside the Lehrer Memorial Methodist Church in Garwood are placed two memorial markers. The stones are placed to honor two Garwood Methodist boys who died in World War II. Both are buried elsewhere. Norman Lanier is one. William Foster is the other.
When the last Axis troops surrendered in Tunisia in May 1943, the battle for North Africa was over. The North African countries of Tunisia, Libya, and Egypt would continue to be staging areas for heavy bomber strikes against Italy, France, and the Balkans for much of the rest of the war. William Newton Foster of Garwood was in the Army Air Corps in North Africa during this period and, though the War Department listed his death as non-battle, he was killed in the line of duty.
Foster was born June 11, 1917 near Vanderbilt in Jackson County, Texas, the child of Mr. and Mrs. F. R. Foster. His family moved to Colorado County in 1932, and Foster graduated from Garwood High School in 1935. He was a member of the Methodist Church, which he had joined when he was ten.
Foster was inducted into the military May 18, 1942, one of the massive number of draftees taken immediately after Pearl Harbor. He trained at Sheppard Field and earned his silver wings at Ft. Myers, Florida. He had trained as an aerial gunner, mechanic, and machinist. He was shipped overseas in September 1943 and attained the rank of staff sergeant while serving with the 310th Bombardment Group, 47th Wing in North Africa. Reports said Foster was killed in a crash two months later, on November 14, 1943, near Tobruk, Libya. It has been speculated that he was on a mission over the Mediterranean when he lost his life; however, if that were true, he probably would have been classified as killed in action rather than as a non-battle death.
Foster was survived by his parents and an uncle, D. E. Foster of Columbus. After the war, his family brought Foster's body back for burial in Bay City, next to his younger sister, Lucille Isabelle Foster, who had died in 1920. A funeral service was held on June 23, 1949 in Garwood Methodist Church with Rev. Calvin Froehner officiating. Alma Dale Pinchback played the piano. The pallbearers were Garwood servicemen, Sgt. Clyde Muesse, S/Sgt. Carl Smith, T-Sgt. Melvin Schilling, T-Sgt. Robert Schiurring, Sgt. Melvin Rees and Capt. Ted Danklefs. He is memorialized by a simple gravestone in Bay City and a more expository marker at the Garwood church.
Supreme Sacrifice: Colorado County's World War II Dead, Nesbitt Memorial Library Journal; sources used Eagle Lake Headlight, December 3, 1943 and Colorado County Citizen, December 2, 1943, Used by permission.
Staff Sergeant Foster was a Colorado County casualty.
Although not a Matagorda County casualty, his family did live here briefly c.1913.
His baby sister was buried at Cedarvale Cemetery in Bay City, and when he was killed in Africa he was buried next to her.
Later his father was buried next to him.
We are proud to include him among our honored dead from World War II.
Garwood Flyer Killed In Action On African Coast
Garwood, Dec. 1. - Staff Sgt. William Newton Foster, 26, was killed in action on November 14 near Tobruk, Libya, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. F.R. Foster of this city, learned through a war department message this week.
Sgt. Foster, aerial gunner, air mechanic and machinist, was attached to a bomber corps which may have been based at the North African coastal city, and his plane was probably on a mission in the Mediterranean theatre when he lost his life.
The young flyer had been in the Army since May, 1942.
He received basic training at Sheppard Field and was awarded his silver wings at Ft. Myers Fla.
He spent a furlough with his parents last summer, before embarking for overseas duty.
He observed his 26th birthday on June 11.
Surviving besides his parents are a grandmother, Mrs. Will Troutman of Altoona, Kans., and several uncles and aunts, among whom are Mr. and Mrs. D. E. Foster of Columbus.
Weimar Mercury, Weimar, Texas, December 10, 1943
Staff Sgt. William N. Foster of Garwood Dies in Libya
With the approach of the Christmas season war casualties are coming in and thousands of hearts are grieved beyond expression.
To Mr. and Mrs. F. R. Foster of Garwood a yellow winged message brought the sad news Monday that their son, Staff Sergeant William Foster, died in Libya, near Cobruck, on November 14.
The War department did not give any further particulars, merely stating that a letter would follow.
St. Sgt. Foster graduated from the Garwood School, class of 1935. He had been in the service 18 months and had been overseas only two months. He was a Civil Engineer.
To the parents in their grief, the Headlight offers tenderest sympathy.
They have assured their friends that as soon as more news of the particulars arrive, it will be given publicity.
Eagle Lake Headlight, 1943