World War II Honoree

Douglas R. Gillett

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Dallas, Texas

Honored By

Raymond J. Linder

Relationship

Crew member, bombardier

CORPORAL. AERIAL GUNNER, ATTENDED GUNNERY SCHOOL. FOLLOWING THAT WAS ASSIGNED AS THE BALL TURRET GUNNER ON A B-24 BOMBER AT WESTOVER FIELD, MASSACHUSETTS. COMPLETED B-24 CREW TRAINING AT CHATHAM FIELD, SAVANNAH, GEORGIA WITH 9 OTHER CREW MEMBERS. AFTER CREW TRAINING WAS ASSIGNED FOR COMBAT ON A B-24 BOMBER, CREW 29 IN THE PACIFIC THEATER. TRAVELED ACROSS COUNTRY TO MATHER FIELD, SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA THE PORT OF EMBARKATION. ORDERED TO FLY A REPLACEMENT B-24 TO BIAK, NEW GUINEA AND FURTHER REASSIGNMENT. FLEW TO NEW GUINEA VIA HONOLULU, CANTON ISLAND, TARAWA AND LOS NEGROS ISLANDS. ASSIGNED TO B-24 BOMB GROUP 22 LOCATED ON OKINAWA. FLEW TO OKINAWA VIA MANILA AND JOINED BOMB GROUP 22 ON OKINAWA. SERVED AT OKINAWA AND KOREA AS PART OF OCCUPATION FORCES. EARNED THE AMERICAN THEATER RIBBON, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN RIBBON WITH 1 BATTLE STAR, OCCUPATION RIBBON (JAPAN) AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL.