World War II Honoree

William R. Watkins, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Columbus, Ohio

Honored By

Col. Ronald L. Albers, USAFR (Ret)

Relationship

Friend

HE WAS A POLICE OFFICER AND STUDENT AT OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY WHEN HE WAS DRAFTED INTO THE ARMY AIR CORPS ON JANUARY 1, 1943. HE BECAME A MEMBER OF THE DUTY SQUADRON AT COURTLAND ARMY AIR BASE, ALABAMA. HE SOON RECEIVED ORDERS TO ATTEND THE OFFICER TRAINING SCHOOL AT MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA. FOLLOWING HIS COMMISSION AS A 2ND LIEUTENANT IN JANUARY 1944, HE WAS TRANSFERRED TO TUSKEGEE ARMY AIR FIELD, ALABAMA. WHEN OFFICERS WERE NEEDED FOR THE NEWLY FORMED 477TH MEDIUM BOMBER GROUP (B-25 MITCHELL BOMBERS) HE IMMEDIATELY VOLUNTEERED AND WAS SENT TO COMBAT INTELLIGENCE SCHOOL AT ORLANDO ARMY AIR FORCE BASE, FLORIDA. UPON GRADUATION, HE WAS ASSIGNED AS INTELLIGENCE OFFICER OF THE 616TH BOMB SQUADRON, 477TH BOMB GROUP, AT GODMAN FIELD, KENTUCKY. HE WAS ALSO A GRADUATE OF THE ARMY AIR CORPS SCHOOL OF PHOTOGRAPHIC INTELLIGENCE. ALTHOUGH HIS BOMB GROUP WAS DEACTIVATED IN 1946, HE REMAINED ON ACTIVE DUTY (INCLUDING A 4 YEAR TOUR AS COMMANDER OF THE 3347TH STUDENT SQUADRON AT CHANUTE AIR FORCE BASE, ILLINOIS FOR WHICH HE EARNED THE AIR FORCE COMMENDATION MEDAL) UNTIL HIS RETIREMENT AS A MAJOR IN THE U.S. AIR FORCE.