William E. Metzger Jr., Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Date of Death

William E. Metzger Jr.

United States Army Medal of Honor recipient

Date of Birth: 09-Feb-1922

Place of Birth: Lima, Ohio, United States

Date of Death: 09-Nov-1944

Profession: military personnel

Nationality: United States

Zodiac Sign: Aquarius

William Edward Metzger Jr.
(February 9, 1922 – November 9, 1944) was a United States Army Air Forces officer and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in World War II.Metzger joined the Army from his birthplace of Lima, Ohio in October 1942, and by November 9, 1944 was a second lieutenant serving as the co-pilot of a B-17 Flying Fortress in the 729th Bomb Squadron, 452nd Bombardment Group.
On that day, during a bombing mission over Saarbrücken, Germany, his plane was severely damaged and several of the crew were wounded by enemy fire.
Knowing that the most seriously injured crewman needed immediate medical aid, and fearing that he would not receive such aid if he was dropped by parachute into enemy territory, Metzger and the pilot, Donald J.
Gott, decided to try to fly the crippled aircraft back into Allied territory.
Once reaching friendly airspace, Metzger chose to stay behind with the pilot and seriously injured man while the other crewmen parachuted to safety.
He and the pilot attempted a crash landing, but the aircraft exploded before touching down, killing all three on board.
For their actions, both Metzger and Gott were posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor six months later, on May 16, 1945.
Metzger, aged 22 at his death, was buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in his hometown of Lima, Ohio.