World War II Honoree

William J. Preston, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Birmingham, Alabama

Honored By

John Preston & Keith Preston

Relationship

Sons

IN 1940, HE WAS ACTIVATED WITH THE 106TH OBSERVATION SQUADRON, ALABAMA NATIONAL GUARD, AND PARTICIPATED IN ANTI-SUBMARINE PATROLS OFF THE U.S. COAST. HE ATTENDED OFFICER CANDIDATE SCHOOL (OCS) AT MIAMI BEACH IN 1942 AND WAS COMMISSIONED A 2ND LIEUTENANT. HE WAS ASSIGNED IN THE MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS IN THE ARMY AIR CORPS, 57TH BOMB WING, 310TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP (MEDIUM), 12TH AIR FORCE. WHILE SERVING IN NORTH AFRICA, SICILY, AND ITALY, HE WAS ASSIGNED AS A PHOTOGRAPHIC INTELLIGENCE OFFICER CONDUCTING BOMB DAMAGE ASSESSMENTS AND PLANNING UPCOMING RAIDS. HE PARTICIPATED IN ASSESSING BOMBING RAIDS CONDUCTED AGAINST SICILY, CORSICA, THE ALLIED LANDINGS AT SALERNO, NAPLES, ANZIO, FLORENCE, PISA, TURIN AND ASSISTED IN PLOTTING THE RAIDS ON ROME. MARCH 1, 1945, PER GO 42, HE WAS AWARDED THE BRONZE STAR MEDAL. HE WAS PROMOTED TO THE RANK OF CAPTAIN DURING THE WAR.