World War II Honoree

William Benjamin 'Bill' Raines

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Vinita, Oklahoma

Honored By

Sandra Kay Raines Saunders

Relationship

Daughter

ENTERED MILITARY SERVICE ON JULY 7, 1943 AT FORT SILL AT LAWTON, OKLAHOMA. TOOK INITIAL ENTRY BASIC TRAINING AT FORT SILL, AERIAL ENGINEER TRAINING AT LAS VEGAS, NEVADA AND CREW TRAINING AT DENVER, COLORADO. JOINED THE 419TH BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON, 301ST BOMBARDMENT GROUP, 5TH BOMBARDMENT WING, 15TH AIR FORCE ABOUT DECEMBER 28, 1944 IN FOGGIA, ITALY. ASSIGNED AS AN AERIAL ENGINEER-GUNNER ABOARD B-17 'FLYING FORTRESS' BOMBER AIRCRAFT. SERVED IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER. PARTICIPATED IN THE NORTH APENNINES, RHINELAND, CENTRAL EUROPE AND PO VALLEY CAMPAIGNS. FLEW 27 COMBAT MISSIONS, INCLUDING MISSIONS FROM FOGGIA TO BERLIN, GERMANY. AWARDED AIRCREW MEMBER WINGS, FLIGHT ENGINEER WINGS, AIR MEDAL WITH BRONZE OAK LEAF CLUSTER, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 4 BRONZE SERVICE STARS, WWII VICTORY MEDAL AND ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED WITH THE RANK OF TECHNICAL SERGEANT AT CAMP CHAFFEE AT FORT SMITH, ARKANSAS ON OCTOBER 27, 1945.