World War II Honoree

William D. English

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Piedmont, California

Honored By

William D. English

Relationship

Self

ENTERED THE SERVICE IN 1943, DRAFTED INTO THE ARMY AIR FORCE, ORIGINALLY ON LIMITED SERVICE BECAUSE OF BEING 30 POUNDS UNDER THE MINIMUM WEIGHT REQUIREMENT. SERVED IN THE ARMY AIR FORCE AS TECHNICAL SERGEANT, RADIO OPERATOR AND CREW MEMBER ON BOARD B-24 FLYING VERY LOW LEVEL NIGHT MISSIONS INTO FRANCE, THE LOWLANDS AND NORWAY FOR THE PURPOSE OF DROPPING SUPPLIES AND OCCASIONALLY PERSONNEL TO ALLIED UNDERGROUND FORCES OPERATING IN THESE AREAS. TOWARD THE END OF THE WAR HIS CREW WAS TRANSFERRED TO A BRITISH ROYAL AIR FORCE BOMBER GROUP AND FLEW SEVERAL NIGHT MISSIONS BEFORE BEING SHOT DOWN BY NIGHT FIGHTERS AS LEAD PLANE OVER HAMBURG. TWO CREWMEN WERE KILLED ON BOARD AND TWO WOUNDED BUT MANAGED TO PARACHUTE TO WAITING GERMANS, ALONG WITH THE REST OF THE SURVIVING CREW. THEY WERE FINALLY RELEASED FROM PRISON CAMP IN MOOSEBURG BY PATTON’S THIRD ARMY A FEW DAYS BEFORE THE ARMISTICE WAS SIGNED.