World War II Honoree

Emory Austin Forrest

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Arrowsmith, Illinois

Honored By

Robert H. Price

Relationship

Friend

ENTERED ACTIVE SERVICE WITH THE ARMY AIR FORCES ON 7 DECEMBER 1943 AT FORT SHERIDAN, ILLINOIS. ATTENDED COMBAT CREW BASIC TRAINING WITH THE 718TH TRAINING GROUP, 13TH TRAINING WING, JEFFERSON BARRACKS, MISSOURI UNTIL 19 FEBRUARY 1944. BETWEEN 22 FEBRUARY AND 8 APRIL ATTENDED GUNNERY TRAINING AT THE LAS VEGAS ARMY AIR FIELD, NEVADA, SPECIALIZING IN THE SPERRY LOWER TURRET ON THE B-17 AIRCRAFT; RECEIVED THE AERIAL GUNNER BADGE. ON 25 APRIL ASSIGNED TO THE 500TH BOMB GROUP, 881ST SQUADRON, WALKER ARMY AIR FIELD, KANSAS; TRAINED ON B-29 AIRCRAFT, WAS PROMOTED TO CORPORAL AND RECEIVED THE ARMY GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL. IN NOVEMBER ORDERED TO ISLEY FIELD, SAIPAN. ON 18 DECEMBER 1944, FOLLOWING A BOMBING MISSION DIRECTED AT THE MITSUBISHI AIRCRAFT ENGINE FACTORY NAGOYA, JAPAN, HIS B-29 Z-1 'PEE WEE' WAS FORCED TO DITCH IN THE PACIFIC OCEAN AFTER FUEL TRANSFER PUMPS FAILED AND THE CREW WAS UNABLE TO TRANSFER FUEL FROM THE BOMB BAY TANKS. POSTHUMOUS AWARDS: PURPLE HEART MEDAL, AIR MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH BRONZE SERVICE STAR, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL.