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Last update: 02 November 2023
Crew 12

Lieutenant William R. Pound Jr.

Navigator
37th Bomb Squadron
- First name:
William
- Middle name:
Roy
- Last name:
Pound Jr.
- Nickname:
Bill
- Rank Doolittle raid:
Lieutenant
- Last rank:
Lieutenant Colonel
- Service number:
0-419332
- Date of birth:
18 May 1918
- Place of birth:
Milford, Utah
- Date of death:
13 July 1967
- Place of death:
Albaquerque, New Mexico
- Place of the cemetery:
Santa Fe, New Mexico
- Name of the cemetery:
Santa Fe National Cemetery

Additional info

William Roy Pound Jr. was born on 18 May 1918 in Milford, Utah. He was the son of William Roy Pound and Mary Ethell (Benett) Pound. The couple had 4 children.
 
William was the brother of Margaret, Katherine and Bill Pound.
 
He was a student for two years at the Santa Monica California Junior College.

William Roy Pound Jr. married Louise Catherine Kelly Pound, they married on 08 December 1945 in Columbia, South Carolina. The couple had 3 children : John, Teresa, and Daniel

Sgt Louise Catherine Kelly Pound wife of pound

Louise Catherine Kelly Pound

On the flight to China after bombing Japan, the crew spotted a Japanese weather boat. His crew strafed the vessel with the plane’s .50-caliber machine guns, sinking it. Unfortunately, the long flight and bad weather made for disastrous delays, forcing 11 of the 16 raiding crews to bail out, including Pound'’s. The others crash-landed or ditched in the water, and nearly a dozen men were killed or captured.

Pound was one of 64 raiders who found safe haven—thanks to a little luck, a lot of stamina and the help of the Chinese. For his part in the most famous air raid in WWII history, 

When her beloved husband died, he died young from a heart attack,  at the age of 49, she accepted God's will and devoted herself to her family and community, serving as a teacher aide in the Santa Fe school system for many years.
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At the age of 88, her biggest thrill, besides welcoming two great-grandchildren, was to see Barack Obama in person and to witness his election. As the end approached, she said "death is a part of life".
 
In the picture below you see :
 
First row (from left to right)
LtCol Hilger, Maj Greening, Lt White and Lt Smith
second row :
Lts Davenport, Pound Jr,Bower, Macia Jr and Truelove
 
If someone has more info and pictures on William Roy Pound's profile, please contact me at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  
 
 
 
© find a grave.com - Ron Overley - used with permission
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Written and research by Geert Rottiers on .
Buy the book
THE TOKYO SIXTEEN

The Heroes of Doolittle's raid on Japan in april 1942

by Mr. Geert Rottiers

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