Eugene P. Simonson
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Air Force
Eugene P. Simonson entered the Army Air Corps on July 22, 1942, at Fort Snelling, Minnesota.
He served as a Staff Sergeant, flight engineer and turret gunner on B-25 Mitchell medium bombers with the 487th Bomb Squadron of the 340th Bomb Group of the 12th Air Force. He flew 67 missions in nine months over Rome-Arno, North Apennines, and Po Valley, Italy; Air Combat Balkans, and Southern France.
He received the following: Distinguished Flying Cross (received 40 years after his discharge), Soldier’s Medal, Air Medal with six Oak Leaf Clusters (seven awards), Presedential Unit Citation, Good Conduct Medal, European-African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with one silver battle star (in lieu of five bronze stars), and World War II Victory Medal.
He was honorably discharged on September 18, 1945, at Camp McCoy, Wisconsin.
Source: Hometown Heroes: The Saint Louis County World War II Project, 294.
