World War II Honoree

Duane G. Gilchrist

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Atlanta, Georgia

Honored By

Bend Heroes Foundation

STAFF SERGEANT, ENLISTED IN THE ARMY AIR FORCES ON 22 MAY 1944 IN FT MCPHERSON, ATLANTA, GEORGIA. ASSIGNED TO THE 397TH BOMB SQUAD, HE WORKED AS A FLIGHT RADIO OPERATOR ATTACHED TO FERRY COMMAND TRANSPORTING B-24S FROM TOPEKA, KANSAS TO GOIA, ITALY; HE WAS INVOLVED IN B-29 AIRCRAFT FLIGHT TRAINING IN TAMPA, FLORIDA, AND LASTLY WAS INVOLVED IN B-17 AIRCRAFT PATROL IN PANAMA FOR FOUR MONTHS FOLLOWING V-J DAY. HIS ASSIGNMENTS TOOK HIM TO ENGLAND, ITALY, AFRICA, THE MIDDLE EAST AND PANAMA. HE WAS AWARDED THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, WWII VICTORY MEDAL AND GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL.