William Durwood Pulliam

Military
William D "Bill" Pulliam a photographic officer of the 91st Bomb Group with "Cross Eyes" a cat mascot at Bassingbourn Image by William D "Bill" Pulliam, 91st Bomb Group. Written on slide casing: '91 BG Bill Pulliam with Cross-Eyes.' media-388089.jpg FRE 5671 William D "Bill" Pulliam a photographic officer of the 91st Bomb Group with "Cross Eyes" a cat mascot at Bassingbourn Image by William D "Bill" Pulliam, 91st Bomb Group. Written on slide casing: '91 BG Bill Pulliam with Cross-Eyes.' Roger Freeman Collection

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection

Object Number - FRE 5671 - William D "Bill" Pulliam a photographic officer of the 91st Bomb Group with "Cross Eyes" a cat mascot at Bassingbourn Image by William D "Bill"...

Bill Pulliam was from Kansas City, Missouri. He enlisted in 1942 and joined the 91st Bomb Group, where he worked as photographer for the 401st Bomb Squadron in the photo laboratory at Bassingbourn. Pulliam was responsible for loading strike cameras into B-17 Flying Fortresses, which would photograph bombs falling onto the target. The images would later be analysed by intelligence officers to judge the success of the mission.



If an aircraft from Pulliam’s unit landed at the wrong base, it was his job to retrieve the film. On Christmas Eve 1944, bad weather prevented several Fortresses from returning to base, and Pulliam was sent 70 miles with his colleague Sergeant Joseph Harlick to prepare the aircraft for their next raid. Driving at midnight with blacked out headlights, Pulliam and Harlick collided with an unexploded bomb which had been dropped from an ammunition truck. Fortunately the bomb failed to detonate and Pulliam returned home to Missouri at the end of the war, where he married his sweetheart Reyina in June 1945.

 

Awards: Good Conduct, American campaign, EAME, WWII Victory.

Connections

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Units served with

Unofficial emblem of the 91st Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

William D "Bill" Pulliam a photographic officer of the 91st Bomb Group with "Cross Eyes" a cat mascot at Bassingbourn Image by William D "Bill" Pulliam, 91st Bomb Group. Written on slide casing: '91 BG Bill Pulliam with Cross-Eyes.'
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Mascot
  • Nationality: British
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group
  • Service Numbers: FE-LI9
  • Highest Rank: Aviation Cadet
  • Role/Job: Mascot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Miami Clipper
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 322nd Bomb Squadron

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Sedalia, Missouri 5 August 1921 Born Sedalia, Missouri

Enlisted

Jefferson Barracks, Missouri 18 June 1942 Enlisted Jefferson Barracks, Missouri

Died

Kansas City, Missouri 4 October 2012 Died Kansas City, Missouri

Buried/ Commemorated

Memorial Park Cemetery Kansas City, Missouri 7 October 2012 Interred Memorial Park Cemetery Kansas City, Missouri

Revisions

Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Sources

91st Bomb Group Photo Unit, Roll of Honor

William Durwood Pulliam: Gallery (57 items)