World War II Honoree

Ernest C. Fitch, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Wichita, Kansas

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

WORKED IN AN AIRCRAFT FACTORY IN WICHITA, KANSAS FOR 10 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK. DECIDED MILITARY SERVICE COULDN'T BE ANY WORSE SO ASKED HIS DRAFT BOARD TO DRAFT HIM. ENTERED MILITARY SERVICE AND WAS TRAINED AS A B-17 'FLYING FORTRESS' BOMBER TAIL GUNNER. NEVER SAW COMBAT ACTION AS HE PASSED OUT DURING A TRAINING MISSION AND WAS DIAGNOSED WITH AN ENLARGED HEART. SPENT SIX WEEKS IN A HOSPITAL AND WAS THEN DISCHARGED FROM SERVICE. AWARDED THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL.