World War II Honoree

David Hempstead Cissna

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Portsmouth, Ohio

Honored By

William D. Cissna

Relationship

Son

SERVED OCTOBER 1940 TO MARCH 1942 IN THE 37TH FIELD ARTILLERY, OHIO NATIONAL GUARD. ATTENDED OFFICER CANDIDATE SCHOOL (OCS) THEN SERVED IN THE 319TH REGIMENT, 80TH DIVISION, ARMY INFANTRY FROM JUNE 1942 TO MAY 1943. HE THEN TRANSFERRED TO THE ARMY AIR CORPS FOR FURTHER TRAINING AS A PILOT. SERVED IN THE 456TH BOMB GROUP, 745TH BOMB SQUAD, 15TH AIR FORCE, ARRIVING IN ITALY ON JULY 21, 1944. HE PILOTED B-17 AND B-24 BOMBERS, FLYING A LARGE NUMBER OF MISSIONS IN AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER AND CONTINUING TO FLY UNTIL FEBRUARY 28, 1945 AT WHICH TIME HE WAS RETURNED TO THE U.S. HE ATTAINED THE RANK OF MAJOR IN ITALY.