World War II Honoree

Harold L. Willey

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Raleigh, North Carolina

Honored By

Barry L. Siegle

Relationship

Son of Crewmember, Howard Siegle

HE SERVED AS A BALL TURRET GUNNER WITH THE 8TH AIR FORCE, 379TH BOMB GROUP, 527TH BOMB SQUADRON AT KIMBOLTON AIRFIELD, MAY 1944 TO AUGUST 1944 ON BOARD B-17 'RED DRAGON'. THEY WERE SHOT DOWN BY GERMAN FLAK GUNS AT AACHEN, BEHIND ENEMY LINES ON AUGUST 9, 1944. THE ENTIRE CREW JUMPED TO SAFETY BEFORE PLANE CRASHED. HE WAS MISSING IN ACTION FOR 35 PLUS DAYS IN BELGIUM AND WAS ASSISTED BY 'BELGIAN UNDERGROUND' AND WALKED OUT TO U.S. ALLIES IN MID-SEPTEMBER 1944.