Branch of Service
U.S. Army Air Force
Hometown
Wasco, Oregon
Honored By
Orville L. Kline
Rank: Staff Sergeant. Inducted into the United States Army Air Corps December 6, 1941 at San Francisco, California. After completing basic military training, he was selected to attend the Flight Aviation Training Program. He served as a Tail Turret Gunner aboard a B-17 ‘Flying-Fortress’ Bomber, assigned to the 401st Bomber Squadron, 91st Bomber Group, and a subordinate unit of the U.S. 8th Air Force ‘Mighty Eighth’ Army Air Forces. His unit was based at the Bassingbourn Royal Air Force Station Location: Cambridgeshire, England. Saturday, April 17, 1943 his Bomber was shot down by German Fighters, while participating in a Bombing mission to Bremen, Germany. The Flight Group’s mission was to destroy, an operational German Aircraft Plant. He successfully bailed-out, before his aircraft crashed in the vicinity of Bruchhausen. He was captured by the German Armed Forces, and transferred to the Prisoner of War Camp, Stalag 17B near Krems, Austria. When the War ended in Europe Tuesday, May 8, 1945 he was liberated, and returned to military control. This American Patriot received the following Decorations: Air Medal, WWII Victory Medal, American Campaign Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal and the Silver Aviator Badge. The Air Medal was awarded to the Sergeant for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight.