World War II Honoree

William C. Powell, IV

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Susan L. Palmeri

Relationship

Friend

AT START OF WWII, HE JOINED ROYAL CANADIAN AIR FORCE WHERE HE FLEW THE AVRO ANSON BOMBER. AFTER THE JAPANESE ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR HE TRANSFERRED TO THE U.S. ARMY AIR CORPS WHERE HE FLEW DC-2 AND DC-3 AIRCRAFT. IN OCTOBER 1942 HE BEGAN FLYING THE HIMALAYAS TO CHINA COMPLETING 122 COMBAT MISSIONS FOR WHICH HE RECEIVED THE DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS WITH OAK LEAF CLUSTER AND AIR MEDAL ALSO WITH THE OAK LEAF CLUSTER. FLEW THE FIRST DC-4 FROM NEW YORK TO PARIS AT THE TIME OF THE LIBERATION OF PARIS IN AUGUST 1944.