World War II Honoree

Donald W. Guilfoyle

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Providence, Rhode Island

Honored By

A Grateful American

ENLISTING AS AN AVIATION CADET IN 1942. IN JUNE OF 1943, HE RECEIVED HIS WINGS AND WAS COMMISSIONED A 2ND LIEUTENANT. AFTER TRAINING IN PANAMA, HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE 79TH FIGHTER GROUP, 86TH SQUADRON IN NAPLES, ITALY, WHERE HE BEGAN FLYING THE P-47 THUNDERBOLT FIGHTER AIR PLANE. HE FLEW 99 MISSIONS UNTIL JUST BEFORE THE SOUTHERN FRANCE INVASION. RECIPIENT OF THE DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS AND THE AIR MEDAL WITH THREE CLUSTERS. ON APRIL 12, 1945 AT THE FUNERAL OF FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT, HE HAD THE HONOR OF PILOTING ONE OF THE 150 P-47 FIGHTERS THAT PARTICIPATED IN THE FLY BY.