World War II Honoree

Eddie Shelton Winstead, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Washington, North Carolina

Honored By

Washington High School Alumni

ENLISTED IN U.S. ARMY AIR FORCES IN JUNE 1942. SERVED AS A RADIO OPERATOR/ AERIAL GUNNER ASSIGNED TO A B-17 COMBAT CREW WITH 8TH AIR FORCE, 95TH BOMB GROUP (H), 335TH BOMB SQUADRON BASED AT HORHAM AIRFIELD, ENGLAND. FLEW 28 COMBAT MISSIONS AND SURVIVED A DITCHING IN THE NORTH SEA IN JANUARY 1944. AFTER COMPLETION OF COMBAT TOUR OF DUTY, SERVED AS AN INSTRUCTOR, TRAINING RADIO OPERATORS ON B-17 AND B-29 AIRCRAFT. AWARDED DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS, AIR MEDAL WITH THREE OAK LEAF CLUSTERS, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN SERVICE MEDAL WITH BRONZE STARS (AIR OFFENSIVE, EUROPE), PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION WITH TWO OAK LEAF CLUSTERS, AND COMBAT AIRCREW WINGS. RECEIVED AN HONORABLE DISCHARGE IN HOME STATE; OCTOBER, 1945 AT SEYMOUR JOHNSON FIELD IN GOLDSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA.