World War II Honoree

William P. Craig

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Flora, Illinois

Honored By

Robert Medley Gatewood

ENLISTED IN THE ARMY AIR CORPS AND ENTERED ACTIVE SERVICE ON DECEMBER 2, 1944 AT PEORIA, ILLINOIS. VOLUNTEERED FOR AND GRADUATED FROM THE AVIATION CADET PROGRAM AT CRAIG FIELD, SELMA, ALABAMA. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AS AN AVIATION CADET WITH PILOT WINGS ON MAY 22, 1944 TO ACCEPT EXTENDED ACTIVE DUTY AS A COMMISSIONED OFFICER. RE-ENTERED ACTIVE SERVICE AS A SECOND LIEUTENANT ON MAY 29, 1944 AND TRAINED AS A SINGLE ENGINE FIGHTER PILOT. DEPARTED THE CONTINENTAL U.S. ON NOVEMBER 30, 1944 BOUND FOR THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS. ASSIGNED TO AND SERVED WITH THE 389TH FIGHTER SQUADRON, 366TH FIGHTER GROUP FLYING COMBAT OPERATIONS IN P-47 THUNDERBOLT AIRCRAFT THROUGH THE ARDENNES, RHINELAND AND CENTRAL EUROPE CAMPAIGNS. EARNED THE AIR MEDAL WITH OAK LEAF CLUSTERS, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH THREE BRONZE BATTLE STARS, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL (GERMANY), BELGIAN CROIX DE GUERRE (UNIT AWARD) AND BELGIAN FOURRAGERE (UNIT AWARD). HONORABLY SEPARATED FROM ACTIVE SERVICE AS A FIRST LIEUTENANT ON MAY 12, 1946 AT THE SEPARATION CENTER, CAMP MCCOY, WISCONSIN.