World War II Honoree
World War II Veteran
Howard Lee Harris, Jr.
Branch of Service
U.S. Army Air Force
Hometown
Petersburg, Virginia
Honored By
Daughter
UPON GRADUATING FROM THE VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE IN JUNE 1942, WENT THROUGH ARMY AIR CORPS PILOT TRAINING AND WAS SENT TO INDIA. SERVED FOR TWO YEARS AS A TEST PILOT IN THE PACIFIC THEATRE OF THE AIR SERVICE COMMAND AT VARIOUS AIR DEPOTS, INCLUDING THE 80TH AIR DEPOT AND EASTERN INDIA AIR DEPOT. HE TESTED FIGHTER AIRCRAFTS FOR USE IN THE FORWARD AREAS, AND SUFFERED THREE MAJOR CRASHES.