World War II Honoree

Earl D. Williams

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Lindsay, Oklahoma

Honored By

Lillian Williams

Relationship

Wife

SERGEANT. SERVED IN THE WESTERN PACIFIC AS PART OF THE 871ST BOMB SQUADRON, 497TH BOMB GROUP (VERY HEAVY) AND THE 73RD BOMB WING BASED AT ISELY FIELD, SAIPAN. HE FLEW MANY MISSIONS IN THE WESTERN PACIFIC AS A 911 AIRPLANE ARMORER AND TAIL GUNNER. THE 871ST BOMB SQUADRON CAMPAIGNS INCLUDED THE EASTERN MANDATES, WESTERN PACIFIC AND JAPAN. THE SQUADRON ASSISTED THE ASSAULT ON OKINAWA IN APRIL 1945 BY BOMBING ENEMY AIRFIELDS TO DEFEND THE U.S. INVASION FORCE FROM AIR ATTACKS. IN 1945, THIS WING BECAME A PART OF THE XXI BOMBER COMMAND UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF GENERAL CURTIS LEMAY, WHO DEVELOPED A MORE AGGRESSIVE STRATEGY USING THE LARGER B-29 SUPER FORTRESS BOMBERS TO MAKE DANGEROUS NIGHT FLIGHTS AT LOW ALTITUDES OVER JAPAN WITH INCENDIARY BOMBS. THE 871ST SQUADRON RECEIVED A DISTINGUISHED UNIT CITATION FOR A MISSION ON JANUARY 27, 1945, WHEN THE B-29 AIRPLANES WITHSTOOD SEVERE ENEMY ATTACKS TO STRIKE AN INDUSTRIAL AREA AND A SECOND DISTINGUISHED UNIT CITATION FOR ATTACKING STRATEGIC CENTERS IN JAPAN DURING JULY AND AUGUST 1945. HE, AND THOSE WHO FLEW WITH HIM, WERE NEVER SHOT DOWN AND HE WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED IN DECEMBER OF 1945.