World War II Honoree

Harry D. Bassler

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Cook County, Illinois

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: 1ST LIEUTENANT. HE WAS INDUCTED INTO THE ARMY AIR CORPS SEPTEMBER 25, 1941 AT FORT SHERIDAN, ILLINOIS AND WAS ACCEPTED INTO THE AVIATION FLIGHT TRAINING PROGRAM. SERVED AS A P-47D ‘THUNDERBOLT’ FIGHTER PILOT ASSIGNED TO THE 365TH FIGHTER SQUADRON, 358TH FIGHTER GROUP, U.S. 9TH AIR FORCE. HIS UNIT WAS STATIONED IN NORMANDY AT THE CRETTEVILLE AIRFIELD, FRANCE. KILLED IN ACTION TUESDAY, AUGUST 22, 1944, WHILE FLYING A GROUND ATTACK MISSION ON A LUFTWAFFE AIRFIELD NEAR TOURS-SUR-MARNE, FRANCE. DURING THE ENGAGEMENT, HIS FIGHTER WAS SHOT DOWN AFTER BEING HIT BY GROUND FIRE AND CRASHED NEAR CHALONS, FRANCE. THE LIEUTENANT IS ALSO CREDITED WITH ONE AERIAL VICTORY, WHICH OCCURRED ON JULY 17, 1944. HE IS BURIED IN THE EPINAL AMERICAN CEMETERY LOCATED AT EPINAL (VOSGES), FRANCE. DECORATIONS AND MEDALS: AIR MEDAL WITH 16 BRONZE OAK LEAF CLUSTERS. THE AIR MEDAL WAS AWARDED TO THE LIEUTENANT FOR MERITORIOUS ACHIEVEMENT WHILE PARTICIPATING IN AERIAL FLIGHT.