Donald K Willis
Military
Object Number - UPL 18828 - Fl/Lt Donald K Willis 335th FS, 4th FG, 8AF USAAF, formerly 121 [Eagle] Sqn RAF spitfire pilot.
Joined RAFVR, assigned to 121S, transferred to 335FS, 4FG, 8AF USAAF, transferred to VIII Fighter Command, 67th Fighter Wing Operations. Flew with the 55th Fighter Squadron, 20th Fighter Group at Kingscliffe, evaluating new fighter-bomber tactics for the P-38.
Went down in P-38J-10-LO 42-68077 KI-X Evaded capture for 2 months, arriving back in England on 28 JUN 44. EVD (MACR 3616).
Remained in the Air Force until 1953. Worked for Global Van Lines and in the insurance business before becoming a quartermaster on a supertanker.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
![Personnel of the 364th Fighter Group stand in front of a B-17 Flying Fortress of the 303rd Bomb Group at Honington in 1945. Printed caption on reverse: '71620 AC- Colgate Relay Crew of the 364th Fighter Group, 67th Fighter Wing at 8th AFS F-375, Honnington [sic], England. 5/7/45. U.S. AIR FORCE PHOTO.'](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-377253.jpg.webp?itok=lGhT-5tn)
- Unit Hierarchy: Wing
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Combat organisation
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: P-38 Lightning
- Unit: 20th Fighter Group 55th Fighter Squadron
Missions
- Date: 10 April 1944
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Marion, IN, USA | 7 August 1911 | Born - 7 August 1911 Marion, IN |
|
Other Transferred |
20 October 1942 - 22 April 1943 | Transferred to 335th FS, 4th FG, 8th AF USAAF. | |
|
Other Promoted |
Debden, Saffron Walden, Essex CB11, UK | 22 March 1943 | Promoted to Captain. |
|
Other Shot down |
10 April 1944 | Went down in P-38J-10-LO 42-68077 KI-X. EVD (MACR 3616). | |
|
Other Evaded EVD |
10 April 1944 - 28 June 1944 | Evaded capture for 2 months, arriving back in England on 28 JUN 44. | |
|
Died |
Ocala, FL, USA | 27 April 1977 | Died - 27 April 1977 Ocala, FL. |
| Leavenworth, IN, USA | |||
|
Other Joined RAFVR |
Canada | Joined Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. | |
|
Other Assigned |
Kirton in Lindsey, Gainsborough, North Lincolnshire DN21, UK | 20 October 1942 | Assigned to 121 [Eagle] Sqn RAF. |
Revisions
Merged with duplicate entry to include details from:
- the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia ;
- MACR 3616;
- Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database
EAGLES of the RAF - The World War II Eagle Squadrons by Phillip D Caines.
http://www.4thfightergroupassociation.org/uploads/8/2/0/3/8203817/335_w…
http://www.uswarmemorials.org/html/people_details.php?PeopleID=3666
EAGLES of the RAF - The World War II Eagle Squadrons by Phillip D Caines.
http://www.4thfightergroupassociation.org/uploads/8/2/0/3/8203817/335_w…
http://www.uswarmemorials.org/html/people_details.php?PeopleID=3666
EAGLES of the RAF - The World War II Eagle Squadrons by Phillip D Caines.
http://www.4thfightergroupassociation.org/uploads/8/2/0/3/8203817/335_w…
http://www.uswarmemorials.org/html/people_details.php?PeopleID=3666
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / http://www.4thfightergroupassociation.org/pilots.html
