World War II Honoree

Harry D. Yoder

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Boyertown, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Ardath Yoder

Relationship

Wife

HE WAS A PILOT OF A B-24 LIBERATOR BOMBER AND WAS ASSIGNED TO THE 9TH AIR FORCE AND 12TH AIR FORCE IN NORTH AFRICA, WHERE HE FLEW 38 COMBAT MISSIONS. HIS 376TH BOMB GROUP MOVED TO ITALY AND BECAME THE 15TH AIR FORCE. SEVERAL MONTHS LATER, HE WAS TRANSFERRED TO ENGLAND AND ASSIGNED TO THE 44TH BOMB GROUP OF THE 8TH AIR FORCE. FROM SHIPDAM, ENGLAND, HE FLEW 18 BOMBING MISSIONS INTO FRANCE AND GERMANY. HE WAS ASSIGNED TO 4 AIR FORCES DURING COMBAT OVERSEAS. HE WAS AWARDED THE LEGION OF MERIT WITH AN OAK LEAF CLUSTER, AIR MEDAL WITH 8 OAK LEAF CLUSTERS AND THE DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS. AFTER THE WAR, HE REMAINED IN THE AIR FORCE FOR 24 YEARS AND WAS CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER DURING THE BERLIN AIRLIFT. HE ALSO SERVED ON THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF AT THE PENTAGON AND THEN RETIRED IN 1969 AS A COLONEL. HIS MILITARY CAREER COVERED 30 YEARS.