World War II Honoree

George Balthazor

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Fond du Lac, Wisconsin

Honored By

Stephen C. Balthazor

Relationship

Nephew

SERVED IN THE 8TH AIR FORCE, 487TH HEAVY BOMBARDMENT GROUP, STATIONED IN LAVENHAM, ENGLAND. FLEW 32 COMBAT MISSIONS OVER ENEMY-OCCUPIED TERRITORY; FIRST AS CO-PILOT OF THE B-24 'CHIEF WAPELLO' AND LATER AS PILOT OF THE B-17 'FLUTTERBYE'. ON 4 OF THE 32 MISSIONS, HIS PLANE FLEW LEAD CREW AND ON 5 MISSIONS AS DEPUTY LEAD CREW. TWO OF HIS MISSIONS WERE OVER HEAVILY-FORTIFIED BERLIN. HE RECEIVED THE DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS, AIR MEDAL WITH 3 OAK LEAF CLUSTERS AND PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION. PARTICIPATED IN THE AIR OFFENSIVE IN EUROPE, APRIL 1944 TO JUNE 1944; NORMANDY, JUNE 1944 TO JULY 1944; NORTHERN FRANCE, JULY 1944 TO SEPTEMBER 1944; RHINELAND, OCTOBER 1944.