World War II Honoree

Gene Raymond

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

New York, New York

Honored By

Mary M. Travis

Relationship

Veteran

HOLLYWOOD MOVIE STAR WHO INTERRUPTED HIS MOTION PICTURE CAREER DURING WWII. ACCEPTED A COMMISSION AS A FIRST LIEUTENANT, U.S. ARMY AIR FORCES, FOLLOWING THE PEARL HARBOR ATTACK DECEMBER 1941 BECAUSE HE WAS A FULLY RATED CIVILIAN PILOT. INITIALLY FLEW AS AN OBSERVER IN B-17 BOMBERS ON ANTI-SUBMARINE PATROL OFF THE ATLANTIC COAST OF THE UNITED STATES. ATTENDED AND GRADUATED FROM U.S. ARMY AIR FORCES INTELLIGENCE SCHOOL AND SENT TO ENGLAND IN JULY 1942. ASSIGNED TO THE 97TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP. PROMOTED TO ASSISTANT OPERATIONS OFFICE IN THE 8TH BOMBER COMMAND. RETURNED TO THE U.S. IN 1943 AND FLEW B-17, B-25, B-26 AND P-39 AIRCRAFT. RELEASED FROM ACTIVE DUTY AS A MAJOR ON OCTOBER 22, 1945. REMAINED IN THE U.S. AIR FORCE RESERVE AND ON AUGUST 13, 1968, AFTER HAVING LOGGED 5,000 HOURS AND BEEN AWARDED COMMAND PILOT WINGS, RETIRED FROM THE U.S. AIR FORCE RESERVE AS A COLONEL.