World War II Honoree

William Joseph Minell

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Dearborn, Michigan

Honored By

Fox Kemp

Relationship

Friend

LIEUTENANT. B-24 BOMBER PILOT. GRADUATED FROM ADVANCED FLIGHT TRAINING. RECEIVED COMMISSION AND WINGS FROM PERRIN FIELD, TEXAS. ASSIGNED TO 15TH AIR CORPS, 455TH HEAVY BOMBARDMENT GROUP. FLEW 36 COMBAT MISSIONS OVER NORTH AFRICA, ITALY AND PLOESTI OIL FIELDS IN ROMANIA. ON SEVERAL MISSIONS THE FAMOUS TUSKEGEE AIRMEN ESCORTED HIM AND HIS BOMBER FORMATION. AWARDED DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS, AIR MEDAL WITH 2 OAK LEAF CLUSTERS, ARMY GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, WWII VICTORY MEDAL AND EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER CAMPAIGN RIBBON WITH 2 BRONZE STARS.