World War II Honoree

Harlan Ray Hill

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

West Olive, Michigan

Honored By

Beatrice Hill

Relationship

Wife

SERVED AS A TAIL GUNNER ON A B-17 FLYING FORTRESS WITH THE 99TH BOMB GROUP, 15TH AIR FORCE. FLEW 27 MISSIONS IN THE EUROPEAN THEATRE OF OPERATIONS. AWARDED A METAL FROM RUSSIA FOR A TEN DAY MISSION. AWARDED TO HIM BY BORIS YELTSIN. LAST MISSION AIRPLANE WAS SHOT DOWN AND CREW SURVIVED 3 MONTHS IN THE ALPS. WHEN TRIED TO CROSS GERMAN LINES WERE CAPTURED AND PUT IN A PRISON CAMP AT STALAG LUFT III. PUT ON A DEATH MARCH OF 3 NIGHTS AND 2 DAYS AND WAS INCARCERATED IN ANOTHER PRISON CAMP AT NUREMBERG 7A. AWARDED TWO PURPLE HEART MEDALS.