World War II Honoree

William G. Graham

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Lisbon, Connecticut

Honored By

William E. Shaklee

Relationship

Friend

WHEN PEARL HARBOR WAS ATTACKED ON DECEMBER 7, 1941, HE WAS CREW CHIEF IN A DOUGLAS B-18 BOMBER PATROLLING THE ATLANTIC COAST LOOKING FOR GERMAN SUBMARINES. AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS, HE WAS ACCEPTED AS A CADET IN THE U.S. ARMY AIR CORPS TRAINING SCHOOL. NINE MONTHS LATER, HE REPORTED TO PATRICK FIELD IN WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA. THERE THE ARMY FORMED A SPECIAL MISSIONS GROUP TO PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION FOR HIGH RANKING MILITARY AND GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, AND HE WAS PART OF IT. THE GROUP WAS BASED AT WASHINGTON NATIONAL AIRPORT IN THE NATION’S CAPITOL AND REMAINED THERE FOR THE DURATION OF THE WAR. HE REMAINED IN THE SPECIAL MISSIONS GROUP UNTIL EARLY IN 1946 WHEN HE RESIGNED FROM ACTIVE DUTY.