World War II Honoree

Gerald Warren Chase

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Barnsdall, Oklahoma

Honored By

Evelyn, Charlotte, Martha, Warren & Charles

Relationship

Wife, Children & Grandchildren

ENTERED SERVICE ON JANUARY 19, 1942 AT LOWERY FIELD, DENVER, COLORADO; AS AN AVIATION CADET. THIS ENLISTMENT WAS FOR THE REGULAR ARMY AIR CORPS. COMPLETED TRAINING AS A PHOTO LABORATORY COMMANDER AND WAS APPOINTED 2ND LIEUTENANT 0-854080 ON APRIL 25, 1942. ON APRIL 24, 1942, WAS ASSIGNED TO 3RD AIR FORCE, ESLER FIELD, LOUISIANA TO THE 67TH OBSERVATION GROUP AND TO ITS 153RD OBSERVATION SQUADRON AS A PHOTO OFFICER. ON AUGUST 31, 1942 THIS AIR GROUP SAILED FROM NEW YORK TO SCOTLAND AND ON TO ITS BASE NEAR BATH, ENGLAND. FROM HERE, THE MISSION WAS PHOTO RECONNAISSANCE OVER FRANCE. IN MAY 1943, THE 67TH OBSERVATION GROUP BECAME PART OF THE 8TH AIR FORCE. WAS REASSIGNED TO NORTHERN IRELAND AS BASE PHOTO OFFICER AND PROMOTED TO 1ST LIEUTENANT AIR FORCE RESERVE. IN SEPTEMBER 1944, RETURNED TO LONDON, ENGLAND WITH 1ST DISARMAMENT WING OF THE 8TH AIR FORCE. ON JANUARY 1, 1945 THE 1ST DISARMAMENT WING WAS LOANED TO THE 9TH AIR FORCE AND WAS SENT TO FRANCE. THE GROUP WAS BASED IN EISENBACH, GERMANY UNTIL JULY 1945 AND THEN MOVED TO NUREMBERG, GERMANY. ON NOVEMBER 17, 1945, RETURNED TO U.S. THROUGH BOSTON ARRIVING ON NOVEMBER 25, 1945. RELEASED FROM ACTIVE DUTY AT CAMP CHAFFEE, ARKANSAS ON FEBRUARY 25, 1946.