World War II Honoree

William J. 'Bill' Frier

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Sulphur, Oklahoma

Honored By

Mrs. William J. Frier

Relationship

Wife

SERVED AS 2ND LIEUTENANT IN THE ARMY AIR CORPS. OKLAHOMA MILITARY ACADEMY FROM 1941 TO 1943. U.S. ARMY AIR CORPS IN 1943. BASIC TRAINING AT SHEPHERD FIELD IN TEXAS. SERVED WITH THE 54TH COLLEGE TRAINING DETACHMENT IN SPRINGFIELD, OHIO. PRIMARY AT GARNER FIELD IN UVALDE, TEXAS WITH PT-19. BASIC TRAINING AT WACO, TEXAS WITH PT-13. ADVANCED TRAINING AT ELLINGTON FIELD IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. GRADUATED AS PILOT IN SEPTEMBER OF 1944. ORDNANCE IN GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA. SHIPPED TO BOMBAY ON THE USS GENERAL JOHN POLK; ARRIVED IN NOVEMBER OF 1944. TRAIN TO CALCUTTA ON TO DIJON, ASSAM, INDIA. ASSIGNED TO THE 10TH COMBAT CARGO SQUADRON, 3RD GROUP. CHECKED OUT IN C-47 AIRCRAFT. FLEW CARGO AND MADE AIR DROPS TO G-2 BEHIND ENEMY LINES, SUPPLIED TROOPS BY AIR DROP DURING BATTLE ENGAGEMENTS. DROPS USUALLY MADE 50 FEET AND UP. ALSO MADE TRIPS IN C-47 TO CHINA. HE MOVED TO MYITKYINA, BURMA IN JUNE; WAS NOW EQUIPPED WITH C-46 AIRCRAFT. STARTED FLYING THE CHINESE ARMY AND GASOLINE TO CHINA OVER THE HUMP, TWO MISSIONS A DAY, FLEW AT NIGHT. OVER 600 HOURS COMBAT TIME. HE WAS AWARDED THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS WITH ONE OAK LEAF CLUSTER AND THE AIR MEDAL WITH TWO CLUSTERS. RETURNED TO THE U.S. IN OCTOBER OF 1945. THEN SERVED IN AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL. ENTERED THE SERVICE IN JUNE OF 1943. DISCHARGED IN MARCH OF 1947.