World War II Honoree
World War II Veteran
Michael H. Prestia
Branch of Service
U.S. Army Air Force
Hometown
Connellsville, Pennsylvania
Honored By
Rita E. Prestia
VOLUNTARY ENLISTMENT SERVICE NUMBER 13169859. DECEMBER 2, 1942. BASIC TRAINING MIAMI, FLORIDA. AVIATION CADET PROGRAM TEXAS JULY TO AUGUST 1943; PILOT TRAINING SCHOOL, UVALDE, TEXAS SEPTEMBER TO OCTOBER 1943; GUNNERY SCHOOL HARLINGEN, TEXAS NOVEMBER TO DECEMBER 1943; NAVIGATION SCHOOL HONDO, TEXAS DECEMBER 1943 TO APRIL 1944. HONORABLE DISCHARGE APRIL 21, 1944. COMMISSIONED OFFICER 0723678 APRIL 22, 1944. COMBAT TRAINING, U.S. AND GREAT BRITAIN WITH THE B-17 FLYING FORTRESS. ASSIGNED TO THE 8TH AIR FORCE, 452ND BOMB GROUP, STATION 142, DEOPHAM GREEN, ENGLAND, AS AN AERIAL NAVIGATOR. COMPLETED 35 COMBAT MISSIONS MARCH 1945. RECEIVED THE DISTINGUISHED AIR MEDAL WITH SILVER OAK CLUSTER, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH SILVER STAR, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION AND THE ATLANTIC WAR ZONE BAR. ADVANCED AERIAL NAVIGATION SCHOOL APRIL TO MAY 1945. ALSO SERVED IN WALES, SCOTLAND, ICELAND, GREENLAND, NEWFOUNDLAND AND U.S. U.S. AIR FORCE HONORABLE DISCHARGE OCTOBER 17, 1945.