World War II Honoree

William W. Edwards

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Bridgeport, Connecticut

Honored By

Kevin W. Edwards

Relationship

Son

BALKANS, ROME-ARNO, RHINELAND, PO VALLEY, NORTH APENNINES. 2ND LIEUTENANT/NAVIGATOR ON A B-24 LIBERATOR. SERVED WITH THE 15TH AIR FORCE, 55TH BOMB WING, 465TH BOMB GROUP, 783RD SQUADRON STATIONED AT PANTANELLA AIR BASE, ITALY. BAILED OUT OF HIS AIRCRAFT WHEN IT EXPLODED FROM A DIRECT HIT OF ANTI-AIRCRAFT FIRE ON A COMBAT MISSION TO THE HEILIGENSTADT MARSHALLING YARD AT VIENNA ON MARCH 22,1945. CAPTURED AND HELD PRISONER OF WAR BY THE SS AND ESCAPED. AWARDED THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN RIBBON WITH 5 BRONZE STARS, AIR MEDAL WITH 1 OAK LEAF CLUSTER,PRESIDENTIAL CITATION AND PURPLE HEART.