After the war Capt. Williams was inducted into the Combat Air Crew section of the South Dakota Aviation Hall of Fame in recognition of his years spent as a P-38 fighter pilot in the European Theatre, World War II.

20th Fighter Group - 8th AF - Mission #103

14 June 1944: Another large force of heavy bombers attacked tactical targets in Normandy today while others went to Eindhoven, Emmerich and railroad yards in Belgium. All 8th Fighter Command groups gave area patrol and escort.

The 20th Fighter Group supported the fourth force, 2 combat wings of B-24s bombing the airfield at Eindhoven in Holland. Led by Lt. Col. Johnson the Group took off at 0559, picked up the heavies at the Dutch Islands at 0700 and escorted to the target. Bombing was visual and results were good. The boys also covered one box that bombed Emmerich railroad center with good results. Escort was continued to the Dutch Coast and at 0817 the Group headed east again to strafe in the Zwolle, Hengelo, Amelo and Enschede areas. The "Loco Busters" were hot again and destroyed 13 locos before they headed for home.

Capt. Terrence M. Williams (77th) and Lt. Stanley P. Spencer (55th) failed to return from the mission, both as the result of flak encountered while strafing trains. Terry was making a pass at a train in Zwolle when he was hit by flak from a flak car and his right engine caught on fire. He pulled up and got the engine feathered but could not get the fire out so he bailed at 3000 ft.

Spence was hit while strafing a loco near Hengelo. He pulled up to about 200 ft. then crashed on the other side of the train.

-- from King's Cliffe Newsletter, Summer 1997, Vol. 15, No. 2, p.4 --

The following are letters that the family of Terrence Willaims received from an eyewitness who saw Willaims shot down, they are reprinted witht he courtesy of Bruce and Peggy Williams:

On the 14th June 1944 is crashed the plane LO-K of the 77th Fighter Squadron in the neighborhood of my house. You are the pilot and I was eye-witness of your jump out of the plane.

I have a lot of questions. Is it possible to help me? I look forward to hearing from you.

We lived, during the war, in a house on the border of the city of Zwolle, and every night and day we looked in the air for flying bombers and fighters of the R.A.F. and U.S.A.A.F. They flew a route every day over Zwolle to Berlin, and the Rhurarea. The 14th of June wass very busy in the air and fighters were doing an attack on a train. We saw that the plane was famous American fighter P-38.

One of the airplanes hit the train and after a short time the train blew out black and white smoke. After this attack we saw a plane that had a smoking engine, possibly hit from the German anti-aircraft guns. There was heavy shooting.

The pilot (your father Terrence M. Williams) had the presence of mind that he flew the plane so high as possible. Then I saw him jump out the plane and he landed in the neighborhood of our house. After this landing the family Tensen and friends picked up your father, brought him home and gave him a drink.

I'm sure your father have told you the story of the German soldiers that made him P.O.W.

The family Tensen was also taken prisoner from the Gestapo for a few weeks because they helped your father.

The plane crashed in a corner of a hockeyfield and was burned. We found, after a few days, the remains of the canopy and we had making of the glass a lot of rings.

This is the eye-witness of a boy (myself) of 13 years old.

On the 13 October 1944, the Gestapo shot two cousins of the family Tensen, 100 yards from the crash place. The boys were 24 and 25 and members of a partisan group.

Will you please send me a photo of Terrence Williams, his airplane, and the unit insignia of the 77th Fighter Group. Please tell me the reason your father's plane is named "Kate's Crate / The Better Half."