Staff Sergeant Edward Ewing McGill died on 1st June 1944 when a U.S.A.A.F. B-17 came down on the slopes of Cave Hill in North Belfast killing all crew members.
Staff Sergeant
10600464
Staff Sergeant Edward Ewing McGill (10600464) served in 306th Bomb Group (The Reich Wreckers), 8th United States Army Air Force during the Second World War. Born on 14th December 1915 and known as Buck, he was the son of Robert Austin McGill and Della Young McGill (née Taylor) of Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.A.
Buck enlisted on 9th December 1942. While assigned to 427th Bomb Squadron, 303rd Bomb Group, 8th United States Army Air Force, he completed 30 combat missions. He was a recipient of the Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, the WWII Victory Medal, and the Europe-Africa-Middle-East Medal with 2 Battle Stars.
McGill died on 1st June 1944 while serving as a rear waist gunner on B-17 #42-97862 en route from Gander, Newfoundland. The plane crashed in heavy fog at Cave Hill, Belfast while waiting for clearance to land at Nutts Corner Airfield, Co. Antrim. All 10 crew members in transfer from 401st Bomb Group died as a result.
Burial first took place at Lisnabreeny American Military Cemetery, Belfast. After the war, McGill was repatriated to Mount Olivet Cemetery, Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.A.