World War II Honoree

Lewis J. Hemmis

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Erie, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Norma Tomboulian

Relationship

Wife

PERFORMED DUTY AS A RADAR NAVIGATOR ON A C-47 CARGO AIRCRAFT, KNOWN AS A GOONY BIRD, IN EVERY PARADROP IN NORTH AFRICA, SICILY, ITALY, ANZIO BEACH AND EUROPE. FLEW NUMEROUS FLIGHTS DROPPING PARATROOPERS AND DELIVERING SUPPLIES, AMMUNITION, GASOLINE AND MEDICAL SUPPLIES TO UNITS OF THE 82D AND 101ST AIRBORNE DIVISIONS AND THE 501ST AND 502 INFANTRY AIRBORNE REGIMENTS. ON A SUPPLY RUN TO BASTOGNE, DROPPED LOADS OF GASOLINE TO SUPPORT PATTON'S THIRD ARMY. UNIT LOST 40 OF 48 AIRCRAFT OVER DROP ZONE AT BASTOGNE. AFTER CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES, HE EVACUATED SURVIVORS FROM BUCHENWALD, DACHAU, BERGEN-BELSEN AND AUSCHWITZ PRISONS. ACCUMULATED OVER 3,000 HOURS OF COMBAT TIME IN A C-47 AIRCRAFT. AS AN 'OLD TIMER', IT BECAME HIS RESPONSIBILITY TO QUICKLY TRAIN REPLACEMENT NAVIGATORS ON USE OF RADAR AND OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES. ALL SERVICE WAS PERFORMED IN A SUPER-SECRET RADAR UNIT THAT DID NOT EXIST. NO TABLE OF ORGANIZATION, PROMOTIONS, LEAVES HOME OR COMMENTS ABOUT THE UNIT WERE ALLOWED. EARNED 7 BATTLE STARS FOR NORTHERN FRANCE, SOUTHERN FRANCE, ROME-ARNO, RHINELAND, CENTRAL EUROPE, ARDENNES AND NORMANDY CAMPAIGNS. AWARDED 7 OAK LEAF CLUSTERS TO THE AIR MEDAL.