Pilot 1st Lt. William J. Sparks, O-789955 (Elkin, NC)
MIA July 3, 1944 at 0830 hours
MACR 6690

Aircraft History
Engine: V-1710-83 AAF Serial Number: 42-27428.

Mission History
This aircraft was last seen heading out to sea after making several strafing passes on Japanese positions along the north coast of Wallis Island, near Wewak. Despite extensive searches of the area, no sign of this aircraft or its pilot could be found.

There was a report of a life raft between But and Dagua, but it was not found during the offical search. Last reported position was Lat 3*15' S Long 143* 20' from Wallis Island.

Relatives
Bryan W. Sparks (great-nephew)
"He was sorely missed by his family. My Great Grandmother had lots of awesome WW2 pictures and personal items of his. She even had his final paycheck, she never cashed it. She thought it was a slap in face for the loss of such a fine son. He was a student at Appalachin State University when the war broke out. I know he went to flight school in 1942. On 8 FEB 1946 he was listed as FOD or Found Out Dead. I was told by someone at the VA that this means he was either listed on some sort of POW records or was identified by an eye witness in a POW camp and was killed or died in captivity. I have ordered a copy of his service record from the St. Louis records center and will update any info if I get any, keep your fingers crossed! I have attached the two pictures that I have of my uncle in service. These, a copy of Air News Yearbook 1942, his 1939 Elkin High School Diploma, are all that I have of him."

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