World War II Honoree

John L. Fleener

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Louisville, Illinois

Honored By

Robert Medley Gatewood

ENTERED ACTIVE SERVICE AS A DRAFTEE ON FEBRUARY 9, 1943 AT CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. AFTER BASIC TRAINING, VOLUNTEERED FOR AND WAS ACCEPTED FOR AVIATION CADET TRAINING. ATTENDED PRIMARY FLIGHT SCHOOL AT CHICKASHA, OKLAHOMA; BASIC FLIGHT SCHOOL AT GARDEN CITY, KANSAS AND ADVANCED FLIGHT SCHOOLS AT ALTUS, OKLAHOMA AND BROOKS FIELD, TEXAS. GRADUATED ON NOVEMBER 19, 1944 AND HONORABLY DISCHARGED TO ACCEPT A FLIGHT OFFICER COMMISSION ON NOVEMBER 20, 1944. SERVED AS A TWIN ENGINE B-26 MARTIN MARAUDER PILOT AT U.S. LOCATIONS, INCLUDING THE 2530TH ARMY AIR FORCE BASE UNIT AT SELMAN FIELD, ALABAMA FOR THE DURATION. EARNED THE AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL AND THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY SEPARATED FROM THE SERVICE AS A FLIGHT OFFICER ON FEBRUARY 4, 1946 AT MAXWELL FIELD, ALABAMA.