World War II Honoree

Donald Walter Wells

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

East Claridon, Ohio

Honored By

James Wells

Relationship

Son

TECHNICAL SERGEANT. RADIO OPERATOR, MECHANIC AND AERIAL GUNNER ON B-25 MITCHELL MEDIUM BOMBERS. ENTERED SERVICE AT CHARDON, OHIO. TRAINED AT SCOTT FIELD, ILLINOIS. SERVED FROM JULY 13, 1942 TO SEPTEMBER 9, 1945; OVERSEAS FROM MAY 11, 1943 TO JANUARY 10, 1944 WITH (NATO) NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION, AND FROM JANUARY 11, 1944 TO MAY 11, 1944 IN THE 12TH ARMY AIR FORCE, 57TH BOMBER WING, 310TH BOMB GROUP, 380TH BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON. QUALIFICATION BADGES INCLUDE AIR CREW WINGS, AERIAL GUNNER WINGS AND BOMBARDIER WINGS. AWARDED THE PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM IN ACTION AGAINST AN ARMED ENEMY AND SIX AIR MEDALS FOR HAVING DISTINGUISHED HIMSELF BY MERITORIOUS ACHIEVEMENT WHILE PARTICIPATING IN AERIAL COMBAT FLIGHTS. ALSO AWARDED THE ARMY GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH FOUR BRONZE STARS FOR THE CAMPAIGNS OF SICILY, NAPLES-FOGGIA, ROME-ARNO AND THE AIR OFFENSIVE, AS WELL AS THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL. PARTICIPATED IN 51 COMBAT MISSIONS OVER SICILY, SARDINIA AND ITALY FOR A TOTAL OF 182.75 COMBAT HOURS. PROMOTED TO TECHNICAL SERGEANT AT ALGIERS, NORTH AFRICA ON OCTOBER 26, 1943. EARNED TWO OVERSEAS SERVICE STRIPES. LATER ALSO SERVED IN THE 3RD ARMY AIR FORCE AT HARLINGEN, TEXAS AND IN THE 1ST ARMY AIR FORCE AS A COMMUNICATIONS INSTRUCTOR AT THE COMBAT CREW TRAINING STATION, COLUMBIA ARMY AIR BASE, COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA. RECEIVED THE RUPTURED DUCK LAPEL PIN FOR HONORABLE SERVICE. DISCHARGED AT CAMP ATTERBURY, INDIANA.