World War II Honoree

Thelma Joan 'Winnie' Wingate Morrow

Hometown

Sand Springs, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

WORKED AS A 'BOBBY', OR POLICE OFFICER IN SMETHWICK, ENGLAND DURING THE WAR. WOMEN WERE ALLOWED TO SERVE DUE TO THE SHORTAGE OF MANPOWER. SHE WAS ARMED ONLY WITH A WHISTLE. DURING AERIAL BOMBINGS, SHE WAS OFTEN CALLED ON TO RESCUE PEOPLE FROM THE RUINS OF HOMES. ON ONE OCCASION, A GERMAN BOMBER CRASHED OUTSIDE THE CITY AND SHE WAS THE FIRST OFFICIAL ON THE SCENE. SHE PULLED THE PILOT, WHO WAS THE ONLY SURVIVOR, FROM THE WRECKAGE. AFTER DETERMINING THAT HE WAS NOT BADLY INJURED, SHE THEN ARRESTED HIM, ESCORTED HIM TO THE POLICE STATION, AND WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BOOKING HIM INTO JAIL, WHEN HE SPAT ON HER. SHE BEGAN TO BEAT ON HIM UNTIL ONE OF HER SUPERVISORS PULLED HER AWAY, WITH A MILD ADMONITION THAT SHE REALLY SHOULD NOT DO THAT.