World War II Honoree

Theodore L. Billen

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Poughkeepsie, New York

Honored By

A Grateful American

HE SERVED AS A B-17 BOMBER AERIAL GUNNER, IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC, WITH THE 19TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP, PARTICIPATING IN THE BATTLES OF BATAAN, NEW GUINEA AND NEW HEBRIDES ISLANDS. HE HAD SEVEN KILLS OF JAPANESE FIGHTERS. HIS B-17 BOMBER SUNK A JAPANESE MONITOR KONGO CLASS BATTLESHIP IN THE SOLOMON ISLANDS BATTLE ON OCTOBER 30, 1942. HE FLEW OVER 50 MISSIONS AGAINST THE JAPANESE NAVY. GOING TO CADET PILOT TRAINING IN 1943 AND COMMISSIONED AS A PILOT. HE WAS TROOP CARRIER PILOT, ON D-DAY DROPPED PARATROOPERS AND TOWED TROOP CARRYING GLIDERS INTO NORMANDY, HOLLAND, AND THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE, IN C-46 CURTIS COMMANDO AIRCRAFT.