World War II Honoree

Edwin L. 'Ed' Bechtold

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Newkirk, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

APPLIED, AND WAS SELECTED FOR AIRCREW TRAINING IN THE AVIATION CADET PROGRAM AS A PILOT. UPON SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF TRAINING, WAS EARMARKED FOR FOLLOW-ON TRAINING ON MEDIUM BOMBER AIRCRAFT, AWARDED HIS SILVER PILOT WINGS AND WAS COMMISSIONED A SECOND LIEUTENANT. NEXT, ASSIGNED FOR TRANSITION FLYING TRAINING IN THE AIRCRAFT HE WOULD FLY IN COMBAT. THEN PERFORMED DUTIES AS A FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR ABOARD B-25 'MITCHELL' BOMBER AIRCRAFT, STATIONED AT TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA. SERVED DURING THE WAR AND WAS AWARDED THE AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.