World War II Honoree

William R. Gommel

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Indianapolis, Indiana

Relationship

Self

FIRST LIEUTENANT-CHIEF WEATHER FORECASTER/DETACHMENT COMMANDER. WHILE ENROLLED THE ROTC PROGRAM, PURDUE UNIVERSITY, ENLISTED IN THE ENLISTED RESERVE CORPS (ERC). CALLED INTO ACTIVE SERVICE AT FORT HAYES, COLUMBUS, OHIO, AND WAS SENT TO THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA FOR FURTHER TRAINING. ACCEPTED OFFICER'S COMMISSION AFTER COMPLETING AVIATION CADET METEOROLOGY SCHOOL AT CHANUTE FIELD, RANTOUL, ILLINOIS. ASSIGNED AS CHIEF FORECASTER, SPECIAL PROJECTS, 3RD WEATHER WING, TINKER ARMY AIR FIELD, OKLAHOMA CITY; THEN NEW MEXICO AND UTAH. REASSIGNED OVERSEAS WITH THE 11TH WEATHER SQUADRON, U.S. 11TH AIR FORCE, ELMENDORF FIELD, ALASKA; AND AS DETACHMENT COMMANDER, FORT GLENN ARMY AIR BASE, UMNAK, ALEUTIAN ISLANDS, ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS. REMAINED IN THE SERVICE AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE WAR ASPIRING TO THE RANK OF BRIGADIER GENERAL, INDIANA MILITARY DEPARTMENT, INDIANA AIR GUARD.