World War II Honoree

William H. Francis

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Binghamton, New York

Honored By

William Staudenmaier

Relationship

Friend

SERVED AS TAIL GUNNER WITH 93RD BOMB GROUP 'TED'S TRAVELING CIRCUS' IN 1944 WITH TWENTY-SEVEN MISSIONS OVER GERMANY AND FRANCE. ONE OF THESE MISSIONS WAS ON D-DAY. RETURNED TO UNITED STATES IN 1944 AND BECAME A FLIGHT STUDENT. GRADUATED IN 1945 AS FLIGHT ENGINEER ON B-29 WITH A COMMISSION OF 2ND LIEUTENANT. RECEIVED THE DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS, THE AIR MEDAL WITH FOUR OAK LEAF CLUSTERS AND THE PRESIDENTIAL CITATION. SERVED FORM 1942 TO 1945.