Lee Roy Billings
MilitaryAssigned to 783BS, 465BG, 15AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) from raid on Oil refinery in Blechhammer, Germany. When B-24 42-28853 lost a wing over the target he was blown out of the aircraft, fortunately with his chute attached, he survived to be captured. 20-Nov-44. Prisoner of War (POW). MACR 9889.
Awards: POW, WWII Victory, EAME, UN and Korean medals.
Post war: Remained in USAF, serving in Korean war and rising to Master Sergeant.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Fifteenth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Fifteenth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 465th Bomb Group 783rd Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
- Role/Job: Pilot / Squadron Commander
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Unit: 465th Bomb Group 783rd Bomb Squadron
Places
- Site type: Prisoner of war camp
- Known as: Dulag Luft Grosstychow Dulag 12
- Site type: Airfield
- Site type: Prisoner of war camp
- Known as: Stalag Luft 4, Gross Tychow, Pomerania
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Gonzales County, TX, USA | 16 February 1920 | Son of Edgar and Oda E [Hand] Billings. Husband of Patty (Lauchner). Brother of Cecil Billings. Father of Robert Lee Billings and Michael Billings, Grandfather of 7, Sarah, Rachel, Melissa, Josh, David P. Billings USAF Ret., Robert Matthew Billings, Ruthanne Rhoades. GreatGrandfather of 6 (so far) Evelyn Yvonne Billings, Alexander Clark Billings, Gabriel Lee Billings, Sarah Billings, Kaylee Rhoades, Carter Rhoades |
|
Other Shot down / baled out |
Blechhammer, 92439 Bodenwöhr, Germany | 20 November 1944 | Failed to Return (FTR) from raid on Oil refinery in Blechhammer, Germany. When B-24 42-28853 lost a wing over the target he was blown out of the aircraft, fortunately with his chute attached, he survived to be captured. 20-Nov-44. POW. MACR 9889. |
|
Other Prisoner of War (POW) |
Tychowo, Poland | 20 November 1944 | Prisoner of War (POW). Stalag Luft IV. |
|
Died |
Riverside County, CA, USA | 5 December 2002 | |
|
Buried/ Commemorated |
Riverside National Cemetery Riverside Riverside County CA | 8 December 2002 | Riverside National Cemetery Riverside Riverside County California, USA |
|
Based |
Pantanella | 20 November 1944 | Assigned to 783BS, 465BG, 15AF USAAF. |
| Smiley, TX, USA |
Revisions
I’m Robert Matthew Billings. Lee Roy was my grandfather. He told me all about his experiences in the plane that was shot down plus many other stories. I recorded it all on 8mm Sony digital tape, but it’s been lost since made in 1994. He held my daughter Evelyn who was born in 2002. The date of his death is inaccurate. My father knows exactly when. I’m not sure if he was buried in California or Arizona, but my father would know. My father was named after him, and my youngest son Gabriel holds this hero and patriots name also.