World War II Honoree

Eugene F. 'Gene' Wheeler

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Pateros, Washington

Honored By

Georgine 'Pat' Wheeler & LTC Charles T. Borg, USA-Ret.

ENLISTED AT GEIGER FIELD, WASHINGTON AS AN AVIATION CADET IN JULY 1942. COMPLETED CADET TRAINING IN DECEMBER 1943 AND RECEIVED PILOT WINGS AND COMMISSION TO LIEUTENANT. COMPLETED BOMBER TRAINING AND BECAME A B-17 FLYING FORTRESS BOMBER PILOT WITH 8TH AIR FORCE IN ENGLAND WITH MISSIONS OF STRIKING STRATEGIC TARGETS IN GERMANY. ON A MISSION IN 1944 HIS BOMBER WAS HEAVILY DAMAGED FROM ENEMY ANTI-AIRCRAFT FIRE MAKING RETURNING TO HOME BASE IN ENGLAND IMPOSSIBLE. PARACHUTED FROM THE DISABLED PLANE AND WAS PICKED UP BY THE FREE FRENCH UNDERGROUND AND RETURNED SAFELY TO ENGLAND. WENT ON TO COMPLETE 32 MISSIONS. AWARDED PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION, AIR MEDAL WITH 4 OAK LEAF CLUSTERS, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, WWII VICTORY MEDAL AND EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER MEDAL WITH BATTLE STAR.