World War II Honoree

Roland A. Becnel Sr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Lucy, Louisiana

Honored By

Roland A. Becnel Jr.

Relationship

Son

ENLISTED FEBRUARY 3, 1942. ATTENDED AND GRADUATED FROM RENO, NEVADA ARMY AIR FORCE AS AN AERIAL ENGINEER AFTER COMPLETING A SIX WEEK COURSE. TECHNICAL SERGEANT CREW CHIEF RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MAINTENANCE AND UPKEEP OF BOMBERS, FIGHTERS AND PURSUIT PLANES. INSPECTED AIRCRAFT TO DETERMINE NECESSARY SERVICING, REPAIRS OR PARTS REPLACEMENT. ASSIGNED CREWS AND SPECIALISTS TO TASKS AND SAW THAT THEIR DUTIES WERE PERFORMED PROPERLY AND EFFICIENTLY. KEPT RECORDS AND FILES OF ALL REPAIR WORK. HAD WORKING KNOWLEDGE OF AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES AND ANALYSIS OF MALFUNCTIONING OF AIRCRAFT EQUIPMENT. CREW CHIEF FOR COMPANY NORMAN. SERVED IN EUROPEAN THEATRE WHILE DOING THIS WORK. OPERATIONS OFFICE 1272ND ARMY AIR FORCE UNIT, NORTH AFRICAN DIVISION, AIR TRANSPORT COMMAND CENTRAL FLIGHT RECORDS OFFICE DOCUMENTS SHOW AIRCRAFT ENGINEER FLIGHT HOURS TOTALED 32 HOURS 25 MINUTES FROM JUNE THROUGH SEPTEMBER OF 1945 ON B-25 AND C-46 AIRCRAFT. AWARDED THE AMERICAN THEATER RIBBON, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN, GOOD CONDUCT, WORLD WAR II VICTORY MEDALS. SEPARATED FROM SERVICE AT THE CAMP SHELBY, MISSISSIPPI SEPARATION CENTER ON NOVEMBER 26, 1945.