World War II Honoree
World War II Veteran
Earl L. Davis
Branch of Service
U.S. Army Air Force
Hometown
Big Spring, Texas
Honored By
Mrs. Earl L. Davis
483rd Bomb group, 815th bomb squadron. Served August 19, 1943 to October 29, 1945. Air Force Air Crew Member Badge; airplane armored gunner and toggelier. Service outside U.S. September 1944 to June 1945, Italy NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization). Battles and Campaigns: Rome-Arno, North Apennines, Rhineland, air combat Balkans. Decorations and Citations: American Theater, European-African-Middle Eastern Theater ribbon with 4 bronze Stars, Good Conduct, POW Lapel Button. Plane on bombing mission shot down over Austria, October 1944. Parachuted from plane, landed in tall tree injured back. Captured by civilian farmers and turned over to German Authorities. Spent five weeks in Austrian Hospital then in POW camp at Doug Lag, Luft #3 three weeks and Stalag Luft #1, Barth Germany six months. Liberated by Russians in May 1945, sent to Paris, France then shipped home in June 1945. 90 day furlough, then stationed in Florida and San Antonio, Texas and separated from service October 29, 1945 with honorable discharge.