World War II Honoree

Harold L. Winans

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

San Francisco, California

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Second Lieutenant. Inducted into the United States Army from California. Upon his graduation from recruit training, he was designated to attend the Flight Aviation Training Program. As a graduate of the Aviation Cadet program, he accepted his commission and Bombardier Wings. He served as a B-17 ‘Flying-Fortress’ Bomber Bombardier, assigned to the 860th Bomber Squadron, 493rd Bomber Group, an element of the U.S. 8th Air Force ‘Mighty Eighth’ Army Air Forces. His unit was based at the Debach Royal Air Force Station Location: Woodbridge, England. Tuesday, September 12, 1944 he was killed in action, on a bomb run to an Ordnance Depot Location: Magdeburg, Germany. 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 the Ardennes American Cemetery Location: Neupre (Neuville-en-Condroz), Belgium. This American Patriot received the following decorations posthumously: Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and the Purple Heart. The Air Medal was awarded to the Lieutenant for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight, and the Purple Heart for his Heroism and ultimate sacrifice.