World War II Honoree

Lawrence Lee Witt

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Detroit, Michigan

Honored By

Ernest R. & Laura A. Edge

Relationship

Daughter & Son-in-law

ENLISTED IN THE ARMY AIR CORPS, DECEMBER 9, 1942. BASIC TRAINING AT MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA. TRAINED AS AN AIRPLANE MECHANIC AT AMARILLO, TEXAS. ATTENDED GUNNERY SCHOOL AT LAS VEGAS, NEVADA. ARRIVED IN ENGLAND, APRIL 8, 1944. SERVED AS AN ENGINEER AND GUNNER WITH THE 96TH BOMB GROUP, 45TH COMBAT WING, 3RD DIVISION, 8TH AIR FORCE. ON MAY 12, 1944, B-17 WAS ATTACKED AND CAUGHT FIRE OVER GERMANY. TAKEN PRISONER AND SPENT 11 MONTHS AS A POW AT STALAG LUFT IV IN GROSS TYCHOW, POLAND. LIBERATED ON APRIL 16, 1945 BY THE BRITISH SEVENTH ARMY. RETURNED TO THE U.S., MAY 19, 1945 AND DISCHARGED AT SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS NOVEMBER 1, 1945. AWARDED THE AIR MEDAL, PURPLE HEART, WWII VICTORY MEDAL AND THE POW MEDAL.