World War II Honoree

Paul J. Arnold

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Altoona, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Mrs. Lois Arnold

Relationship

Wife

IN THE U.S. ARMY, ASSIGNED TO A COASTAL ARTILLERY UNIT IN THE AREA OF PANAMA WHEN THE JAPANESE ATTACKED PEARL HARBOR. PROMOTED TO SERGEANT ON 1 MARCH 1942 AND STAFF SERGEANT ON 1 MAY 1942. IN THE HOPES OF BECOMING A PILOT, TRANSFERRED INTO THE ARMY AIR CORPS. LATER LEARNED THAT HE WAS TOO OLD FOR FLIGHT SCHOOL, HOWEVER, REMAINED IN THE ARMY AIR CORPS. RETURNED TO THE U.S. ON 4 DECEMBER 1942 AND PREPARED FOR DEPARTURE TO ENGLAND. ON 20 AUGUST 1943, HE WAS TRANSPORTED WITH HIS UNIT ON THE QUEEN ELIZABETH II ARRIVING IN ENGLAND ON 25 AUGUST 1943. ASSIGNED TO AN AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE UNIT IN THE 8TH AIR FORCE AT AN AIR FIELD IN THE VICINITY OF NORWICH, ENGLAND. RETURNED TO THE U.S. ON 26 NOVEMBER 1944 ASSIGNED TO MOODY FIELD, VALDOSTA, GEORGIA.