World War II Honoree

William Bullard Hart

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Columbus, Georgia

Honored By

National Infantry Foundation

VOLUNTEERED FOR DUTY WITH THE ARMY AIR CORPS. WAS TRAINED IN TEXAS AND COMMISSIONED AS A BOMBARDIER, NAVIGATOR FOR THE B-17. HE WAS SENT TO ENGLAND LONG BEFORE THE NORMANDY INVASION. PRIOR TO BEING ASSIGNED TO A UNIT AND DUE TO A VACANCY HE VOLUNTEERED TO BE PART OF THE 35TH AND LAST MISSION FOR A CREW THAT WAS TO ATTACK FRANKFURT. WHILE THE MISSION WAS SUCCESSFUL, ANTI-AIRCRAFT FIRE CRIPPLED THE PLANE AND THE CREW WAS ORDERED TO BAIL OUT. HE WAS CAPTURED AS A POW AND SOON SENT TO STALAG LUFT 1 NEAR THE BALTIC SEA. HE REMAINED THERE UNTIL BEING LIBERATED BY THE RUSSIANS IN MAY OF 1945. HE SPENT 6 WEEKS IN SOLITARY CONFINEMENT FOR HIS ROLE IN AN ESCAPE ATTEMPT. AWARDED THE AIR MEDAL, PURPLE HEART, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN SERVICE MEDAL WITH CAMPAIGN RIBBONS AND THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL.