World War II Honoree

William Dennis Zellers

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Lebanon, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

SERVED IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER WITH THE 307TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP (HEAVY), 'THE LONG RANGERS', 13TH AIR FORCE. SERVED IN COMBAT, PRIMARILY IN THE SOUTH AND SOUTHWEST PACIFIC, UNTIL THE WAR ENDED. HIS GROUP ATTACKED JAPANESE AIRFIELDS, INSTALLATIONS, AND SHIPPING IN THE SOLOMON AND BISMARCK ISLANDS. IT HELPED TO NEUTRALIZE ENEMY BASES ON YAP AND TRUK IN THE CAROLINE ISLANDS AND IN THE PALAU ISLANDS. HIS GROUP WAS AWARDED THE PRESIDENTIAL (DISTINGUISHED) UNIT CITATION (DUC) FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM IN ACTION FOR AN UNESCORTED, DAYLIGHT ATTACK ON HEAVILY DEFENDED AIRFIELDS IN THE TRUK ISLANDS ON MARCH 29, 1944. THE GROUP SUPPORTED OPERATIONS IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS BY STRIKING JAPANESE SHIPPING IN THE SOUTHERN PHILIPPINES AND BY BOMBING AIRFIELDS ON LEYTE, LUZON, NEGROS, CERAM, AND HALMAHERA. ALSO TOOK PART IN ALLIED AIR OPERATIONS AGAINST THE NETHERLANDS INDIES BY HITTING AIRFIELDS, SHIPPING, AND INSTALLATIONS. THE GROUP RECEIVED ANOTHER DUC FOR AN UNESCORTED MISSION AGAINST VITAL OIL REFINERIES AT BALIKPAPAN, BORNEO ON OCTOBER 3, 1944. HIS GROUP SUPPORTED AUSTRALIAN FORCES ON BORNEO AND BOMBED TARGETS IN FRENCH INDOCHINA DURING THE LAST THREE MONTHS OF THE WAR. IT FLEW PATROL MISSIONS ALONG THE ASIATIC MAINLAND AND FERRIED LIBERATED PRISONERS FROM OKINAWA TO MANILA AFTER VICTORY OVER JAPAN (V-J) DAY ON SEPTEMBER 2, 1945. AWARDED THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. AWARDED THE PHILIPPINE PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION FOR SERVICE IN THE WAR AGAINST JAPAN DURING THE PERIOD OCTOBER 17, 1944 TO JULY 4, 1945. ALSO AWARDED THE PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL FOR SERVICE IN THE LIBERATION OF THE PHILIPPINES. HONORABLY DISCHARGED WITH THE RANK OF TECHNICAL SERGEANT AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.