World War II Honoree

LaVerne Stewart Graf

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

North Tonawanda, New York

Relationship

Wife, Children, and Grandchildren

ASSIGNED TO THE 489TH GROUP, EIGHTH AIR FORCE, HE FLEW 27 MISSIONS IN B-24'S IN EUROPE FROM 1944 TO 1945. HE AND HIS CREW WERE SHOT DOWN OVER CAEN, A CITY IN NORMANDY, FRANCE, THE SCENE OF BITTER FIGHTING SHORTLY AFTER D-DAY. HE PARACHUTED, LANDING ON A COBBLESTONE ROAD. THE IMPACT CRACKED SEVERAL OF HIS RIBS AND KNOCKED HIM OUT. WHEN HE CAME TO, HE SAW CANADIAN SOLDIERS POINTING THEIR GUNS AT HIM. ESTABLISHING THAT HE AND HIS CREW WERE AMERICANS, THE CANADIANS ARRANGED FOR THEM TO BE FERRIED BACK TO ENGLAND. RETURNED TO THE STATES FOR TRAINING ON B-29'S AND WAS SLATED FOR TRANSFER TO THE PACIFIC THEATER WHEN JAPAN SURRENDERED IN 1945. MEDALS: DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS; AIR MEDAL; CONSPICUOUS SERVICE CROSS DIED: AUGUST 17, 2007.