Lt. William Parker "Billy" Cook (1917–1944): MIA WWII Pilot whose remains were finally identified

 

Lt. Billy Cook and Burial Vault

Outdoor Garden Mausoleum - 2, Crypt 319, Tier 1

First Lieutenant William Parker “Billy” Cook was a U.S. Army Air Forces pilot and World War II casualty whose remains were identified nearly 70 years after his aircraft was shot down. Born in 1917 in Alameda, California, Cook was a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, and worked for United Airlines before enlisting in the U.S. Army Air Forces in June 1942.

Following flight training at Ellington Field in Texas, Cook earned his pilot’s wings and commission in 1943. By 1944, he was flying missions over Europe in a B-17 Flying Fortress bomber. On December 23, 1944, during a mission over the Germany-Belgium border, his aircraft was shot down. Six of the crew members, including Lt. Cook, were killed in the crash, and their remains were never recovered at the time. Cook was officially listed as missing in action.

B-17 Flying Fortress bomber

The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress was a four-engine heavy bomber renowned for its durability and resilience in combat. Developed by Boeing in the 1930s and nicknamed the “Flying Fortress” upon its 1935 debut, the aircraft became a symbol of American air power in the European Theater. Between 1936 and 1945, more than 12,000 B-17s were produced, with the type dropping more bombs than any other U.S. aircraft during the war. Ironically, crews often credited the B-17’s rugged design with saving lives, as it could absorb substantial damage and still return to base.

Decades later, in 2012, amateur historians discovered the crash site, including the wreckage and remains. The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) used DNA analysis and other forensic tools to positively identify Cook's remains in August 2014.

According to an article published by the San Francisco Chronicle on October 19, 2014, Cook’s niece, Jill McCabe, who had worked for years to locate his remains, was instrumental in helping make the identification possible by submitting a DNA sample. She noted that her uncle was "a family hero," and the identification brought long-awaited closure. His remains were returned to California, and he was buried with full military honors at Mountain View Cemetery in Oakland on October 25, 2014.