World War II Honoree

Casimir J. Harazda

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Tampa, Florida

Honored By

Casimir J. Harazda

Relationship

Self

INDUCTED INTO AVIATION CADET PROGRAM; SEPTEMBER 8, 1943. COMPLETED BASIC TRAINING AT GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA AND FORMAL CADET TRAINING AT MAXWELL ARMY AIR BASE IN MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA. ON FEBRUARY 8, 1945, GRADUATED AS 2ND LIEUTENANT BOMBARDIER AT BIG SPRING, TEXAS. SENT TO LANGLEY FIELD, VIRGINIA TO STUDY AND OPERATE THE APQ15/15A SYSTEM USED IN BOTH B-24 AND B-17 BOMBERS. ON THE WEEK TO BE ASSIGNED TO A EUROPEAN THEATER UNIT, THE WAR ENDED IN EUROPE. TRANSFERRED TO WILLIAMS FIELD IN ARIZONA TO BE TAUGHT TO OPERATE AND BOMB WITH APQ7 RADAR SYSTEM. UPON GRADUATION WAS TO DEPART FROM HERRINGTON FIELD, KANSAS FOR THE PACIFIC THEATER AS THE 'EAGLE SQUADRON'. THIS TIME, THE JAPANESE SURRENDERED BEFORE THE CREWS COULD BE ASSEMBLED. AFTER MONTHS OF INACTIVITY, WAS DISCHARGED AT FORT CARSON, COLORADO ON FEBRUARY 28, 1946 AND JOINED ACTIVE RESERVES AT GUNTER FIELD, MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA.