World War II Honoree

Gaylord LeRoy Finch

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Cincinnati, Ohio

Honored By

Gaylord L. Finch, Jr.

Relationship

Son

ENLISTED IN OHIO NATIONAL GUARD WITH THE 107TH CAVALRY IN 1940. INDUCTED INTO ACTIVE SERVICE 1941. STATIONED AT CAMP FOREST, TENNESSEE. ASSIGNED TO CAVALRY SCHOOL AT FORT RILEY, KANSAS IN 1941 THEN TO FORT ORD, CALIFORNIA WITH THE 107TH CAVALRY. REASSIGNED TO CAVALRY SCHOOL AT FORT RILEY IN 1942 AND RECEIVED COMMISSION AS A 2ND LIEUTENANT OCTOBER 1942. SERVED AS WEAPONS INSTRUCTOR. TRANSFERRED TO THE ARMY AIR CORPS OCTOBER 1943. ASSIGNED TO THE SAN ANTONIO AVIATION CADET CENTER TO ATTEND PRE-FLIGHT SCHOOL. GRADUATED DECEMBER 1943. ATTENDED PRIMARY PILOT TRAINING SCHOOL AT RANDOLPH FIELD, FORT STOCKTON, TEXAS. COMPLETED BASIC PILOT TRAINING AT GOODFELLOW FIELD IN SAN ANGELO, TEXAS APRIL 1944. COMPLETED TWIN ENGINE ADVANCED TRAINING AND RECEIVED HIS PILOT WINGS AT PAMPA, TEXAS JULY 1944. ASSIGNED TO B-24 TRANSITION TRAINING AT LIBERAL, KANSAS AND RETAINED AS INSTRUCTOR IN INSTRUMENT FLYING. SERVED AS INSTRUCTOR IN B-24 INSTRUMENT FLYING AT TRAINING SCHOOL IN BRYAN, TEXAS. SEPARATED FROM THE SERVICE AS A CAPTAIN AT KEARNS, UTAH IN 1945.