World War II Honoree

Joseph William 'Bill' Bell

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Honored By

Jenny Burgin

Relationship

Niece

HE ENLISTED IN THE U.S. ARMY AIR CORPS ON DECEMBER 29, 1941 AND WAS STATIONED AT SCOTT FIELD, ILLINOIS WHERE HE COMPLETED HIS RADIO SCHOOL TRAINING AND ALSO QUALIFIED TO BE A CADET IN PILOT TRAINING VIA EXAM. HE RECEIVED HIS PILOTS WINGS FROM BLACKLAND ARMY AIR BASE, WACO, TEXAS ON FEBRUARY 16, 1943 HAVING GRADUATED WITH CLASS 43-B AS A 2ND LIEUTENANT. IN SUMMER OF 1943, HE WAS IN A SERIOUS AIR CRASH AND WAS LAID UP FOR OVER ONE YEAR. IN JANUARY 1945 AFTER COMPLETION OF B-17 FLIGHT TRAINING, HE AND HIS CREW FLEW THEIR NEW SILVER B-17G FLYING FORTRESS TO LUCERA NEAR THE FOGGIA, ITALY 15TH AIR FORCE COMPLEX. AFTER ABOUT 14 MISSIONS AND HAVING BEEN AWARDED SEVERAL AIR MEDALS INCLUDING THE DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS, HE WAS PROMOTED TO 1ST LIEUTENANT. DURING A MISSION IN MID-MARCH, 1945, HE AND HIS CREW HAD SURVIVED THE LANDING OF A CRIPPLED FLAK-RIDDEN B-17 (WITH ONLY 1 ENGINE OPERATING BY THE TIME THE WHEELS TOUCHED THE GROUND) IN THE FORWARD AIRSTRIP AT CATTOLICA, ITALY.