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Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:

Enlisted for Aviation Cadet training 23 May 1942. Commissioned Second Lieutenant and awarded Bombardier Wings 23 Oct 1943 at Childress Army Airfield (class of 43-13). Assigned to 15th Air Force, 459th Bombardment Group(H), 756th Bombardment Squadron as Bombardier – D/R Navigator on B-24 aircraft. We were based at Guilia Field, near Cerignola, Italy. On 14th mission our aircraft was disabled by anti-aircraft fire (flak) over Brazov, Rumania on 6 June 1944. Abandoned aircraft by parachute (9500 feet altitude) over Serbia. General Dalaza McHailovic, brave Cetnik soldiers, and wonderful Serbian people saved crew from being captured, and housed (gave up their beds to us), and fed us their food for sixty six days. We were missing-in-action until Aug 10th 1944 when, thanks to three OSS officers who parachuted in (2 AM), and who arranged for our return (via 7 C-47 aircraft using makeshift field) to allied control in Italy.