World War II Honoree

Ernest Alfred Williams

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Scarsdale, New York

Honored By

Nancy W. Gaston & Patricia W. Ruggiero

Relationship

Daughters

After attending military schools since high school, he enlisted as a Seaman 2nd Class in January 1942 while enrolled at Principia College. Upon graduation, he reported for active duty and began naval flight training. Completing pre-flight and advanced flight training at Iowa City, Iowa, Pensacola Naval Air Station, St Louis Naval Air Station, and Jacksonville Naval Air Station, he was awarded his Navy wings and commissioned an Ensign on 5 April 1943. He reported to Patrol Squadron (VP) 62 at Whidbey Island Naval Air Station on 18 July 1943 for duty flying PBY-5A (Catalina) multi-engine amphibian aircraft. As a plane commander, he logged 2000 hours of combat flight time on long range patrol/reconnaissance missions in the Northern Pacific-Aleutian Islands area. During his time with VP-62, he flew reconnaissance cover for the visit to the area of President Roosevelt. He detached from VP-62 in late 1944 and was ordered to Corpus Christi Naval Air Station for additional training and to participate in the formation of a new squadron, Patrol Bombing Squadron 2. His final assignment was with Patrol Bombing Squadron 212 in September 1945, flying the PBM-5E (Martin Mariner). He was released from active duty on 5 September 1946.