1LT William Mason Fox—US Army

Mar 29, 1916 - Feb. 6, 1944

Age at Death: 27

Location: POW Camp Lazarett, Hospital, Gad Soden, Germany

Remains: RecoveredCasualty Type: Reported dead while captured, prisoner of war under German control Casualty Reason: Likely died from wounds when flak hit plane.Buried: Sicily-Rome American Cemetery and Memorial, Nettuno, Italy

“The ALUMNUS has so far received only incomplete information regarding the following Notre Dame men who died in the service of their country: Lt. William M. Fox, ex. ’38, South Bend, killed Feb. 6, 1944, in a bombing raid over Italy.”  (Oct. 1944 Notre Dame Alumnus, p. 17)

“First Lt. William Mason Fox, 27, formerly of Fort Wayne has been killed in action, the war department notified his wife, Mrs. Barbara Fox, of Plymouth, Ind., personal secretary to Sen Raymond Willis of Angola. Lt. Fox, pilot of a dive bomber, was reported missing over Italy on Feb. 6. Mrs. Fox had received a report since then that he was seen to bail out over enemy territory. Lt. Fox had performed  his mission behind enemy lines and was on his way back to his base when his plane was hit by flak. Until word of his death came Tuesday, it was thought he had landed safely behind German lines.” (Garrett Clipper [Garrett, Ind.] 13 Apr. 1944, p. 4)

According to the 1930 US Federal Census, William Mason lived with his parents, Daniel B. and Lillian (Simsrott) Fox, at 1602 Hildreth Street in South Bend. He married Barbara Dunfee in Summit County, Ohio on Sept. 19, 1941.

Sources: Ancestry.com, Newspapers.com and FindAGrave.com

04/10/2026 EJS

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56308967/william-mason-fox