William (Bill) Cramer



Bombardier, 351st Bomb Group, Polebrook, England



Bill was president of the local 8th Air Force Chapter at one time and published a book about his exploits called Air Combat With the Mighty 8th. Bill served with the 351st Bomb Group of the 8th Air Force. He flew a total of 37 missions and was shot down five times. The final time he had to bail out of his flaming B-17 and became a POW. Bill managed to escape and made his way back to his unit with the help of the Belgium and French underground organizations.



Bill was granted leave and returned home to the states. Walking up to his house he noticed a Gold Star placard in the window. He assumed that this meant that his brother must have been killed in action. His parents looked as if they had seen a ghost when he walked in. It seems that they had been notified that he was KIA when his plane was shot down, and never told that he had been captured and escaped.



Bill was awarded two Silver Stars, one Bronze Star, two Purple Hearts and eight Air Medals. He went on to serve 21 years in the USAF.