William Gill
Army Air Force
Middle Island
William Gill was born
on August 13th in New York City. He enlisted in the Army Air
Corps on September 11th, 1939. Gill was first assigned to the
3rd Bomb. Squadron, 6th Bomb Group in Panama. Shortly after
World War II broke out the unit was moved to a small island in
the Galapagos where they flew patrols (searching for enemy ships
and submarines?). In 1943 the unit returned to the U.S. to be
reassigned. Gill was then assigned to the 459th Bomb Group, 15th
Air Force, which was based near the town of Cerignola in Italy.
The Group operated from an
old Italian grape and olive farm and flew B-24 bombers against
targets in Germany, Austria, Romania (Ploesti) and other areas.
Gill returned to the U.S. after VE Day and was discharged in
September 1945. In 1947 he reenlisted in the Air Force and in
1953 was assigned to a communications unit supporting the 58th
Fighter Bomber Group in Korea.
Written by,
Merissa Stoecker
Feb. 2007
I was in the 3rd Bomb. Sqdn. in Panama on Dec. 7th, 1941. We
moved to various outlying bases eventually ending on on a small
island in the Galapagos. From there we flew long patrols over
the Pacific. In 1943 the 3rd. Bomb. members returned to the US
where we were assigned to various bomb groups. I ended up in the
459th Bomb. Gp. a B-24 outfit flying out of Cerignola, Italy. I
returned to the US after VE day and was discharged in Sept.
1945.
In 1947I reenlisted in the Air Force and in 1953 I was
assigned to a communications unit supporting the 58th Fighter
Bomber Gp. in Korea.