World War II Honoree

Roland Cleveland Parnell

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Ridgeway, South Carolina

Honored By

Children and Grandchildren

B-24 PILOT STATIONED IN MANDURIA, ITALY, ATTACHED TO THE 15TH AIR FORCE, 450TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP, 721ST BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON. ON FEBRUARY 7, 1945, PARNELL’S PLANE WAS HIT BY ENEMY FIRE DURING A COMBAT MISSION TO BOMB MOOSBIERBAUM OIL REFINERY OUTSIDE VIENNA, AUSTRIA. PARNELL SUCCESSFULLY NAVIGATED THE DAMAGED PLANE TO A SAFE LANDING IN HUNGARY BUT BEHIND GERMAN LINES. LOCAL PARTISANS SHELTERED THE CREW FOR SEVERAL DAYS AND THEN HELPED DELIVER THEM TO ALLIED FORCES. INITIALLY PUT IN CONTACT WITH THE RUSSIAN ARMY, ROLAND AND HIS CREW EVENTUALLY WERE RETURNED TO THE CUSTODY OF THE US ARMY. ALL CREW MEMBERS SURVIVED. PARNELL WAS PROMOTED TO CAPTAIN AND REMAINED WITH THE US AIR FORCE UNTIL HIS DEATH ON MARCH 28, 1952, WHEN THE B-45 HE WAS PILOTING CRASHED DURING A NIGHT TRAINING FLIGHT APPROXIMATELY 11 MILES NNE OF LANGLEY AFB, VIRGINIA.