World War II Honoree

Jack Leonard Murphy

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Collinsville, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

ENTERED THE ARMY AIR CORPS IN 1943 AND WAS TRAINED AS A B-24 'LIBERATOR' HEAVY BOMBER PILOT. IN THE FALL OF 1944, SHIPPED OUT FOR THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER. STATIONED WITH THE 464TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP, 15TH AIR FORCE IN SOUTHERN ITALY, FLYING MISSIONS INTO GERMANY AND ELSEWHERE IN EUROPE. ON FEBRUARY 8, 1945, WHILE RETURNING FROM A MISSION, WAS FORCED TO CRASH-LAND IN ENEMY OCCUPIED TERRITORY IN NORTHERN ITALY. HE AND HIS CREW OF 10 MEN EVADED ENEMY FORCES AND WERE PICKED UP AND HIDDEN BY ITALIAN PARTISANS. AFTER 8 WEEKS, THEY ALL WERE REPATRIATED SAFELY WITH ALLIED FORCES. AWARDED THE AIR MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED IN 1945 WITH THE RANK OF CAPTAIN AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.