World War II Honoree

Lloyd Edward Pearson

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Missoula, Montana

Honored By

Joan Nyman Pearson

Relationship

Wife and Family

In 1941, he was working on a railroad tunnel construction project for West Construction Company in Alaska when Pearl Harbor was bombed. He promptly returned to Missoula where he enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps, and he was sent to Texas for bomber pilot training. Following his training, he was assigned as a co-pilot on a B-17 Flying Fortress and sent with his new crew to England. His plane became part of the 305th Bomb Group, 422nd Squadron in the 8th Air Force and was one of six bombers that flew night raids under the control of the Royal Air Force. After three of the six bombers were shot down, the remaining three planes were returned to United States Army Air Force control. After completing 25 missions over Europe, his crew was assigned to other training and administrative projects. He was discharged in 1946 and awarded The Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with Three Oak Leaf Clusters.