World War II Honoree

William Wittman, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Tampa, Florida

Honored By

Mrs. Theresa Wittman McLaughlin

Relationship

Wife

ENLISTED IN U.S. ARMY AIR CORPS MAY 1941. ORDERED TO AUSTRALIA AND NEW GUINEA IMMEDIATELY AFTER PEARL HARBOR WITH 49TH FIGHTER GROUP. RETURNED TO U.S. JANUARY 1943 FOR PILOT TRAINING. SERVED AS PILOT IN B-24 BOMBER WITH 15TH AIR FORCE IN ITALY. COMPLETED MORE THAN 50 MISSIONS JULY 1944. HE WAS RECOMMENDED FOR THE DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS ON JULY 2, 1944. IT WAS PRESENTED ON OCTOBER 25, 2002. RECEIVED THE AIR MEDAL WITH 5 OAK LEAF CLUSTERS, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH BRONZE SERVICE STARS, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 4 BRONZE STARS, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, NATIONAL DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, DISTINGUISHED UNIT CITATION EMBLEM WITH 3 OAK LEAF CLUSTERS.