World War II Honoree

Roy Lane Yarnell

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Sullivan, Illinois

Honored By

Emogene Yarnell Burrows

Relationship

Wife

SERVED IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS ASSIGNED TO THE 8TH AIR FORCE, 467TH BOMB GROUP, 788TH BOMB SQUADRON AS A B-24 LIBERATOR BOMBER FLIGHT ENGINEER AND GUNNER. ON HIS 30TH COMBAT MISSION, DECEMBER 25, 1944 ON A BOMBING MISSION OVER GERMANY, HIS AIRCRAFT WAS SHOT DOWN BY ANTI-AIRCRAFT FLAK. AFTER BAILING OUT OF HIS CRIPPLED BOMBER HE WAS CAPTURED BY THE GERMAN TROOPS AND INTERNED AT STALAG LUFT 7A PRISON CAMP AS A PRISONER OF WAR FOR 4 MONTHS. HE WAS LIBERATED APRIL 29, 1945 BY A UNIT OF GENERAL PATTON’S 3RD ARMY. PARTICIPATED IN THE AIR OFFENSIVE EUROPE, NORMANDY, NORTHERN FRANCE, ARDENNES-ALSACE, RHINELAND AND CENTRAL EUROPE CAMPAIGNS. HIS AWARDS INCLUDE THE BRONZE STAR MEDAL WITH 4 OAK LEAF CLUSTERS, AIR MEDAL WITH 3 OAK LEAF CLUSTERS, PRISONER OF WAR MEDAL, WWII VICTORY MEDAL AND 2 DISTINGUISHED UNIT CITATIONS. ENTERED THE SERVICE MARCH 29, 1943 AND HONORABLY DISCHARGED SEPTEMBER 25, 1945.