World War II Honoree

William Lee Wellman

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Topeka, Kansas

Honored By

Daughter

AFTER BASIC TRAINING STARTED PUTTING SWITCHBOARDS AND TELEPHONE LINES TOGETHER, BUT DIDN'T LIKE THAT AND ASKED TO BE TRANSFERRED TO AIR CORPS. WAS SENT TO TEXAS FOR TRAINING AND ONTO WENDOVER, UTAH FOR CREW ASSIGNMENT. TRAINED IN UTAH FOR AWHILE THEN FLEW OVERSEAS VIA HERRINGTON, KANSAS; WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA; THE BAHAMAS; BELEN, BRAZIL; NATAL, BRAZIL; DAKAR, AFRICA; MARACHECH, AFRICA AND THEN UP TO THE 8TH AIR FORCE IN HALESWORTH, ENGLAND. FLEW 32 MISSIONS AS A TAIL GUNNER ON B-24 AIRCRAFT AND MUSTERED OUT WITH THE RANK OF STAFF SERGEANT. AWARDED THE DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS AND THE AIR MEDAL WITH THREE OAK LEAF CLUSTERS. CAME HOME VIA SHIP ON THE NORTH ATLANTIC IN MID DECEMBER.