World War II Honoree

Willard Edward Griffin

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Fredericksburg, Virginia

Honored By

Paula Delosh

Relationship

Friend

SERVED WITH 464TH BOMB GROUP, AS AN ENGINEER AND BALL TURRET GUNNER. RECEIVED PURPLE HEART, PRISONER OF WAR MEDAL, AIR MEDAL WITH OAK LEAF CLUSTER AND GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL. THE YOUNGEST OF THE CREW FLYING WITH THE 464TH BOMBER GROUP. WAS ON 29TH MISSION AS AN ASSISTANT ENGINEER AND BALL TURRET GUNNER ON A B-24 LIBERATOR. DURING THE DROPPING OF BOMBS ON OIL REFINERIES AT PLOESTI, ROMANIA, IN 1944, THEIR PLANE WAS HIT AND THE CREW PARACHUTED INTO YUGOSLAVIA, WHERE A THREE CORNER WAR WAS GOING ON. FOR NEARLY A YEAR HE WAS A PRISONER OF WAR.