Willard E. Thompson
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Air Force
Willard E. Thompson entered the Army Air Corps on January 7, 1943.
Mr. Thompson served as a Technical Sergeant, radio operator, gunner, and mechanic with the 15th Air Force in Air Combat Balkans, Naples-Foggia, Italy.
“On March 19, 1944, we departed from Florida flying our own plane overseas. We made stops in Trinidad, Natal, and Brazil across the ocean to Dakar, Africa. Then it was up to Marrakech, Tunisia...until they made a base in Italy for our group. We were stationed at Toretto, Italy.
"Our bombing targets took us to Germany, Austria, Romania, Hungary, France, and Yugoslavia.... We got credit for 40 missions and at that time they were sending crews home on 30-day furloughs.... It was a 13-day trip.
"After our furlough we were on a fast passenger train from Chicago to Florida for reassignment. We were involved in a tragic railroad accident near Terre Haute, Ind., with a mail train en route to Chicago. Our coach with 39 enlisted men, all overseas veterans, was directly behind the engine. Twenty-four enlisted men were killed. I was one of the lucky survivors. I spent the rest of my army career in the States...”
He was awarded the following: Air Medal with bronze star, Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with two bronze battle stars, World War II Victory Medal, and Air Crew Badge with Gunner Wings.
Mr. Thompson was honorably discharged on December 8, 1945, at Wright-Patterson Field, Dayton, Ohio.
Source: Hometown Heroes: The Saint Louis County World War II Project, 322.
