Billings, William Beeker 1916-1942.

William Beeker Billings was born in Indianapolis and graduated from Purdue University in 1938. He joined the U.S. Navy the following year and became an aviator (pilot). He was assigned to the heavy cruiser USS Indianapolis where he served as the ship's observation plane pilot. In early 1942 Billings married Margaret McNeely also of Indianapolis. In early July 1942 Billings' plane was on an observation mission when his aircraft lost control and crashed into the freezing waters near the Aleutian Islands. Neither Billings nor his radioman survived.