Branch of Service
U.S. Army Air Force
Hometown
Oneida, New York
Honored By
A Grateful American
First Lieutenant, Served in WWII with the 354th Pioneer Mustang Fighter Group, during the European Theater of Operations. The 354th Fighter Group was the first unit to receive the Merlin-engine P-51B planes in Europe. The unit was originally part of the 9th Air Force, but it was quickly taken over by the 8th Air Force in order to escort their Heavy Bombers on long bombing raids into Germany. The P-51 aircraft played a big part in the destruction of the German Luftwaffe. He died near Bastogne on January 15, 1945 and was awarded the Purple Heart.