World War II Honoree
World War II Veteran
William 'Bill' Wheeler
Branch of Service
U.S. Army Air Force
Hometown
Dayton, Ohio
Honored By
Harold Dorfman
Relationship
The Crew 66 Family
AERIAL GUNNER, TECHNICAL SERGEANT, B-24 LIBERATOR BOMBER, CROSSED THE ATLANTIC OCEAN EASTBOUND. HAD ORDERS TO DELIVER A B-24 LIBERATOR BOMBER SERIAL NUMBER 42-51549. CREW 66 ON BOARD. (LEG 1): TOPEKA ARMY AIR FIELD, KANSAS TO GRENIER FIELD, NEW HAMPSHIRE. (LEG 2): JULY 28, 1944, GRENIER TO GOOSE BAY, NEWFOUNDLAND, (LEG 3): JULY 29 GOOSE BAY TO MEEKS, ICELAND (BLEW A TIRE ON LANDING), (LEG 4): JULY 31, ICELAND TO VALLEY, WALES. BOMBER DELIVERED TO 8TH AIR FORCE. U.S. TO WALES, EUROPE. OVER WATER 21 HOURS, 8 MINUTES. ONE MONTH IN NORTH IRELAND FOR PRE-COMBAT TRAINING. NEXT STOP, SEETHING AIR FORCE BASE, NORFOLK, ENGLAND. 35 MISSIONS OVER GERMANY. AWARDED THE AIR MEDAL WITH 4 OAK LEAF CLUSTERS, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 4 BATTLE STARS, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, SMALL ARMS EXPERT MARKSMANSHIP RIBBON. SERVED WITH THE 8TH AIR FORCE, 448TH BOMB GROUP, 714TH BOMB SQUADRON, CREW 66 'BOXCARS' THE CREW 66 FAMILY 'A BAND OF BROTHERS'.