World War II Honoree

Billie Dowe Harris

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Altus, Oklahoma

Honored By

Pearl Thomas

Served in Army Air Forces 1056, 355th Fighter Squadron, 354th Fighter Group. Participated in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater/Air Offensive, Europe Campaign (1942-1944) and the Normandy Campaign (1944). He was stationed at Greenham Common Air Base in Southeast England. He flew bomber support missions in a P-51 Mustang into the heart of Germany during 1943-1944. The 355th moved to Boxed, England and then Cricquevill, France to provide air support for ground troops in France. He had flown over 60 to 100 missions and was eligible to be sent home but stayed on in France due to the number of wounded pilots. On July 17, 1944 his plane went down in the woods outside of Les Ventes, France. He avoided crashing into the village and was buried in the town cemetery. His remains were moved to the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in Colleville-sur-Mer, France. A street in Les Ventes is named Place Billie D. Harris in his honor. He received two Air Medals with 11 oak leaf clusters, the Purple Heart, and the Distinguished Flying Cross.