Marseille (pronounced Marcai) My Beloved Bike

My uncle, 2nd Lt. William Dobson Waters 341 Bomb SQ, 97th Bomb GP (H), a fighter pilot in World War II, was shot down over Marseille, France 11/16/1943. Born and raised in Bridgeport, Ohio and attending Ohio State University, he and three of his fraternity brothers from chapter CHI PHI decide to leave school and join the war efforts. With over 75 training missions, 2nd Lt Waters substitutes for another crew member on his first bombing mission B-17 Flying Fortress, serial number 42-3147 (Homesick Angel). His plane is one of several aircraft on this mission. For some unclear reason, the lead plane’s bombardier selects the wrong target. The commander of the mission decides to try for a second attempt at the target. The second run is at the same altitude as the initial attempt, a deadly mistake. The plane is hit and the left waist gunner parachutes, as the plane plunges into Lake Lavalduc. The gunner survives and spends the rest of the war in Stagluft 13, a German prison camp. My uncle resides in a grave at Rhone American Cemetery, Draguignan, France.

My bike is named IN HONOR OF MY UNCLE BILL who was killed while on a mission over Marseille France!