World War II Honoree

William F. Williamson

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Knoxville, Illinois

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Staff Sergeant. Inducted into the United States Army June 17, 1942 at March Field Riverside, California. Upon his graduation from recruit training, he was designated to attend the Flight Aviation Training Program. He served as a crewmember aboard the B-25 ‘Mitchell’ Bomber, and based at a Royal Air Force Station in England. Assigned to the 489th Bomber Squadron, 340th Bomber Group, an element of the U.S. Ninth Air Force Army Air Forces. Tuesday, August 15, 1944 he was killed in action, during a combat sortie. Personnel from a Graves Registration Company buried him in the Neuville-en-Condroz Battlefield Cemetery, Liege, Belgium. In the post-war era, this Airman’s family requested that he be buried with Military Honors at Ardennes American Cemetery Location: Neupre (Neuville-en-Condroz), Belgium. This American Patriot received the following decorations posthumously: Air Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters and the Purple Heart. The Air Medal was awarded to the Sergeant for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight, and the Purple Heart for his Heroism and ultimate sacrifice.