World War II Honoree

Ullman J. Fortenberry

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Haleyville, Alabama

ENLISTED IN THE ARMY AIR CORPS OCTOBER 1942 AS A PRIVATE. ASSIGNED TO THE ARMY AIR CORPS AIRCRAFT MECHANIC SCHOOL, GULFPORT, MISSISSIPPI AND AFTER THAT SCHOOL APPLIED FOR PILOT TRAINING AND WAS ASSIGNED TO THE WESTERN FLYING TRAINING COMMAND. AWARDED PILOTS WINGS AND 2ND LIEUTENANT BARS AT ADVANCED FLYING SCHOOL, FORT SUMNER, NEW MEXICO FEBRUARY 1944. AFTER B-17 TRANSITION AT ROSWELL, NEW MEXICO AND CREW TRAINING AT GULFPORT, MISSISSIPPI, ASSIGNED TO THE 15TH AIR FORCE AS FIRST PILOT ON A B-17 AND FLIGHT COMMANDER IN THE 463RD BOMB GROUP, 774TH SQUADRON. STATIONED IN FOGGIA, ITALY DECEMBER 1944 TO OCTOBER 1945. FLEW 37 MISSIONS. AT THE END OF THE WAR, ASSIGNED TO THE 'GREEN PROJECT' TRANSPORTING HOMEBOUND TROOPS FROM NAPLES TO CASABLANCA. DECORATIONS INCLUDE THE DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS, PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION AND AIR MEDAL WITH CLUSTERS.