Billie Dale Ezell

Service Record:

-- Served in WII (2/3/43 - 9/29/45).

-- School at Miami Beach, FL; Harlingen, TX; Keisler AFB, Biloxi, MS (4/43 - 12/43).

-- Flight Training at Blythe, CA (12/43-4/44).

-- Stationed at Mendelsham, England, with 8th Air Force, 34th Bomb Group, 4th Squadron (4/44 - 11/44).

-- Home, Santa Anna, CA, and Keisler AFB (11/44 - 1/45).

-- Stationed at Chanute AFB, IL (1/45 - 9/45).

(s: Dale Ezell, to Richard Dale Ezell)

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Dale volunteered at age 17.

He flew the first four missions on a B-17. They then got their first B-24, which the pilot named Tommy Thumper, after his pet rabbit at home. On returning from the fourth mission, the pilot set it down to hard, crumpling the landing gear. They got Tommy Thumper II.

As the Flight Engineer, he stood between the pilot and copilot during takeoff and landing to help watch the instruments. He had a desk just behind them, opposite the radio operator. He trained to man the top turret gun, but they never encountered enemy planes during a bombing run.

They made practice bombing runs over the Mojave Desert in California and Mexico.

On D-Day, he flew 2 sorties. They couldn't bomb the first time because of fog. There were three battleships offshore at Normandy--the Texas, the Iowa, and the Arkansas. There were 11,000 planes in the air.

He flew 32 missions. A full tour, when he first went over, was 25. It was later raised to 30, then to "when you get a replacement." He returned to the States in November 1944.

After returning to the States, he wanted to train as a Flight Engineer on the B29. He had the opportunity, but decided, after having made it alive through 32 missions over Germany, that it was safer to be an instructor. So he went to Chanute Field in Illinois.

He was discharged on September 29, 1945 (his [step]mother's birthday).

He got the Air Medal, with ___ Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Distinguished Flying Cross.

(s: Dale Ezell, to Richard Dale Ezell, 22 Sept 2002)

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House location: 1 mile south of Ark. 244 on W.C. 698, on the right (north) side. (s: Richard Dale Ezell)