World War II Honoree
World War II Veteran
Harold Francis Watson
Branch of Service
U.S. Army Air Force
Hometown
Buffalo, New York
Honored By
Ralph Bozorth
HE WAS A LIEUTENANT COLONEL AND THE PILOT ON THE 9TH B-25 BOMBER THAT TOOK OFF FROM THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER USS HORNET, FOR THE DOOLITTLE RAID ON TOKYO, JAPAN APRIL 18, 1942. SEVERELY INJURED IN BAIL-OUT AND WAS A PATIENT IN WALTER REED HOSPITAL, WASHINGTON D.C. UNTIL JULY 1944. REMAINED IN SERVICE AFTER WWII AND SERVED AT BASES IN COLORADO, WASHINGTON, ALABAMA, GEORGIA, LOUISIANA, OKLAHOMA AND CALIFORNIA. DECORATIONS INCLUDE THE DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS, PURPLE HEART AND THE CHINESE ARMY, NAVY AND AIR CORPS MEDAL, CLASS A, 1ST GRADE.