World War II Honoree

Raymond J. Betner

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Hoosick Falls, New York

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

SERVED AS A P-51 ‘MUSTANG’ FIGHTER PILOT IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER WITH THE 47TH FIGHTER SQUADRON, 15TH FIGHTER GROUP, VII FIGHTER COMMAND. STATIONED AT SOUTH FIELD ON IWO JIMA IN THE BONIN ISLANDS BEGINNING FEBRUARY 27, 1945. PARTICIPATED IN THE CENTRAL PACIFIC, AIR OFFENSIVE-JAPAN, AND AIR COMBAT-ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER CAMPAIGNS. INITIALLY FLEW MISSIONS IN SUPPORT OF THE INVASION FORCE ON IWO JIMA. THEN STRUCK ENEMY AIRFIELDS, SHIPPING AND INSTALLATIONS IN THE BONIN ISLANDS. TOOK PART IN LONG-RANGE BOMBER ESCORT AND FIGHTER SWEEPS AGAINST AIRFIELDS AND OTHER TARGETS ON THE JAPANESE HOME ISLANDS. FLIGHTS AGAINST JAPAN INVOLVED A LONG 8-HOUR ROUND TRIP FROM IWO JIMA OVER A DISTANCE OF SOME 1600 MILES. WHEN RETURNING FROM A MISSION, CAPTAIN BETNER'S AIRCRAFT CRASHED WHILE COMING IN FOR A LANDING AT SOUTH FIELD ON MARCH 5, 1945. AWARDED THE AIR MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. AUTHORIZED THE PRESIDENTIAL (DISTINGUISHED) UNIT CITATION FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM IN ACTION BY HIS SQUADRON ON APRIL 7, 1945 WHILE ESCORTING B-29 ‘SUPERFORTRESS’ BOMBERS TO STRIKE THE NAKAJIMA AIRCRAFT PLANT NEAR TOKYO, JAPAN. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.