World War II Honoree

Orvon Grover 'Gene' Autry

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Tioga, Texas

Honored By

Friends of American Heroes

HE SERVED WITH THE 91ST FERRYING SQUAD, 555TH ARMY AIR BASE UNIT, AIR TRANSPORT COMMAND AT LOVE FIELD, AS A C-47 SKYTRAIN PILOT. HIS FLIGHT OFFICER STATUS BECAME EFFECTIVE ON JUNE 21, 1944, AND LASTED UNTIL JUNE 18, 1945. HE FERRIED FUEL, AMMUNITION AND ARMS IN THE DANGEROUS CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER OF WAR AND FLEW OVER THE HIMALAYAS, THE HAZARDOUS AIR ROUTE KNOWN AS THE HUMP. HE SERVED FROM 1942 TO 1946.