World War II Honoree

Lawrence Richard Billow, Sr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Ney, Ohio

Honored By

Sandra Macklem

Relationship

Daughter

SERVED AS A B-17 COMBAT PILOT IN THE 8TH ARMY AIR FORCE WITH THE 860TH BOMBER SQUADRON (H), 493RD BOMBER GROUP. STATIONED AT DEBACH, SUFFOLK, ENGLAND. FLEW 22 CREDITED COMBAT MISSIONS TO GERMANY AND FRANCE, INCLUDING THE FEBRUARY 3, 1945 RAID ON BERLIN, COLOGNE AND OTHER GERMAN CITIES THAT INVOLVED MORE THAN 1,600 B-17 AND B-24 HEAVY BOMBERS, AND 900 P-47 AND P-51 FIGHTERS. ALSO FLEW 'REVIVAL MISSIONS' INTO FRANCE AND GERMANY AFTER GERMANY'S SURRENDER TO RECOVER ALLIED PRISONERS OF WAR AND RETURN THEM TO ALLIED HOSPITALS AND RELOCATION CENTERS. DECEASED NOVEMBER 23, 2004.