World War II Honoree

Donald E. Williams

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Montrose, Colorado

Honored By

Mrs. Barbara Williams

Relationship

Wife

B-29 SUPER FORTRESS BOMBER AIRCRAFT COMMANDER. PRIMARY FLIGHT TRAINING, VISALIA, CALIFORNIA; BASIC FLIGHT TRAINING AT CHICO, CALIFORNIA; AND ADVANCED FLIGHT TRAINING IN STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA. GRADUATED AS A PILOT WITH HIS PILOT WINGS IN FEBRUARY OF 1943. RECEIVED HIS ASSIGNMENT TO THE 20TH AIR FORCE AS A B-29 AIRCRAFT COMMANDER. FLEW 32 COMBAT MISSIONS; 6 WERE FROM INDIA AND CHINA, INCLUDING SEVERAL FLIGHTS OVER 'THE HUMP'. THE OTHER 26 MISSIONS WERE FROM TINIAN ISLAND IN THE MARIANA ISLANDS TO TARGETS IN JAPAN, INCLUDING SEVERAL VERY LOW-LEVEL FIRE MISSIONS. AWARDED DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS, AIR MEDAL WITH 3 CLUSTERS, BRONZE STAR, PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION WITH 1 OAK LEAF CLUSTER, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, ARMY GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER RIBBON, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AMERICAN DEFENSE RIBBON WITH THREE BRONZE STARS, PHILIPPINE DEFENSE RIBBON WITH ONE BRONZE STAR, PHILIPPINE INDEPENDENCE RIBBON AND THE PHILIPPINE PRESIDENTIAL UNIT AWARD MEDAL.