World War II Honoree

John Howard Aitken

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Antigo, Wisconsin

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

ENLISTED AND ENTERED SERVICE AT WAUSAU, WISCONSIN AUGUST 15, 1940. RECEIVED BASIC TRAINING AT SCOTT FIELD, ILLINOIS. NEXT ASSIGNED TO BOLLING FIELD, WASHINGTON, D.C. SENT TO LOWRY AIR FORCE BASE, DENVER, COLORADO IN 1941 TO ATTEND PHOTOGRAPHY SCHOOL. WENT TO FAIRCHILD AVIATION CORPORATION, NEW YORK CITY IN 1942 FOR ADDITIONAL TRAINING. THIS COMPANY BUILT THE AERIAL CAMERAS USED BY THE AIR FORCES. IN JULY 1942, BECAME A CREW MEMBER (PHOTOGRAPHER) OF A LIBERATOR B-24D BOMBER (SERIAL NUMBER 41-11653) ON ASSIGNMENT TO GREENLAND. STATIONED AT B-W-8, AN AIR BASE 500 MILES UP THE WEST COAST OF GREENLAND. RESPONSIBLE FOR PHOTOGRAPHING THE NORTH ATLANTIC ROUTE TO ENGLAND, AS THERE WERE NO ACCURATE MAPS AVAILABLE FOR NAVIGATION. IN JULY 1942, PARTICIPATED IN THE SEARCH AND RESCUE AND DROPPING OF EMERGENCY SUPPLIES AND FOOD TO CREWS OF 2 B-17 BOMBERS AND 6 P-38 FIGHTER AIRCRAFT THAT HAD GONE DOWN ON THE ICE CAP. REASSIGNED TO MONT JOLI, QUEBEC, CANADA INVOLVED IN PATROLLING THE SAINT LAWRENCE RIVER, LOOKING FOR GERMAN SUBMARINES. NEXT STATIONED AT BRADLEY FIELD, CONNECTICUT WHERE, IN LATE 1942, RECEIVED HIS COMMISSION. REASSIGNED TO PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO IN 1943, IN CHARGE OF THE CAMERA REPAIR FACILITY. SUBSEQUENTLY ASSIGNED TO SIMILAR POSITIONS AT AIR BASES AT COFFEYVILLE, KANSAS AND WILL ROGERS FIELD, OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA IN 1944-1945. AWARDED THE AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH BRONZE STAR, WWII VICTORY MEDAL AND HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AT CAMP MCCOY, SPARTA, WISCONSIN OCTOBER 28, 1945 WITH THE RANK OF WARRANT OFFICER JUNIOR GRADE.