World War II Honoree

George Herman Widder

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Los Angeles, California

Honored By

Richard E. Manzer

AS A MEMBER OF THE 406TH BOMB SQUADRON, FLEW B-25 'BILLY' MITCHELL BOMBERS, LOCKHEED HUDSON AIRCRAFT AND OBSOLETE B-18 AIRCRAFT IN ALASKA. SQUADRON FLEW SUBMARINE PATROLS WITH DEPTH CHARGES AND TOOK PART IN THE BOMBING OF KISKA. AFTER 17 MONTHS, WAS TRANSFERRED TO KEY FIELD IN MERIDIAN, MISSISSIPPI WHERE ATTAINED THE RANK OF CAPTAIN. HERE THE ARMY AIR FORCE FORMED UP THE 2ND WEATHER RECONNAISSANCE SQUADRON. WAS DEPLOYED TO THE CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER; SQUADRON FLEW WEATHER PATROLS MOSTLY OVER MONGOLIA, THE AIRCRAFT CARRIED A WEATHERMAN OBSERVER IN THE NOSE IN LIEU OF A BOMBARDIER. THE WEATHER RESEARCH THE SQUADRON PROVIDED HELPED TO PREDICT WEATHER CONDITIONS OVER THE PACIFIC. REMAINED IN THE AIR FORCE AFTER THE WAR AND RETIRED AS LIEUTENANT COLONEL.