World War II Honoree

William T. O'Brien

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Pittsfield, Massachusetts

Honored By

Robert M. Gatewood

ENLISTED AT AGE 21 IN DECEMBER 1939 AND QUALIFIED AS RADIO OPERATOR AIR CREWMAN. FLEW VARIOUS TYPES OF HEAVY BOMBERS OUT OF MACDILL FIELD, FLORIDA. 1943, ASSIGNED TO 397TH BOMB GROUP, 597TH SQUADRON ON B-26 MARTIN MARAUDER MEDIUM BOMBERS. SERVED AS THE RADIO OPERATOR, GUNNER IN THE SIX-MAN CREW OF THE B-26 NAMED THE 'HOLY MOSES'. IN EARLY 1944, FLEW THE SOUTHERN ROUTE TO NEW BASE AT RIVENHALL AIRFIELD, ESSEX, ENGLAND. WHILE FLYING IN THE B-26 NAMED THE 'MAMA LIZ', WAS SHOT DOWN BY HEAVY FLAK ON HIS 29TH COMBAT MISSION ON JUNE 24, 1944 NEAR PARIS. HELD AS A PRISONER OF WAR IN STALAG LUFT 4 AND STALAG LUFT 1 UNTIL LIBERATED BY THE RUSSIANS ON MAY 1, 1944; MADE MASTER SERGEANT WHILE INTERNED. EARNED THE AIR MEDAL WITH FOUR OAK LEAF CLUSTERS, PURPLE HEART, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, GERMAN OCCUPATION MEDAL AND GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL.