Willis Watchell Butts
Military
media-17745.jpeg
UPL 17745
Crew #748
Henry Hull/Lynn Thomas Crew
466th BG - 787th BS
Standing Left to Right: Michael Medic (TG), Lynn E. Thomas (CP/P), Henry Hull (P), William Brown (N), Scott Milleran (B)
Kneeling Left to Right: Henry Atwood (G), Charles Fletcher (R/O), Willis Butts (BTG), Walter Korth (FE), Jack Bullard (G)
Hull led this crew for it's first 14 combat missions at which time he transferred to the 784th BS to become a lead pilot and lead two other crews. Thomas took over and lead this crew for it's final 21 combat missions. 466th Bomb Group collection
Henry Hull/Lynn Thomas Crew
466th BG - 787th BS
Standing Left to Right: Michael Medic (TG), Lynn E. Thomas (CP/P), Henry Hull (P), William Brown (N), Scott Milleran (B)
Kneeling Left to Right: Henry Atwood (G), Charles Fletcher (R/O), Willis Butts (BTG), Walter Korth (FE), Jack Bullard (G)
Hull led this crew for it's first 14 combat missions at which time he transferred to the 784th BS to become a lead pilot and lead two other crews. Thomas took over and lead this crew for it's final 21 combat missions. 466th Bomb Group collection
Attlebridge Arsenal - Brassfield & Wassom
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: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 466th Bomb Group 784th Bomb Squadron 787th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-705392
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Pilot - Pilot - Detached Service with Office of Military Intelligence
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 466th Bomb Group 787th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co Pilot - Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: Delores Jean
- Unit: 466th Bomb Group 787th Bomb Squadron
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Attlebridge Arsenal, Station 120
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Cateechee, SC 29630, USA | 18 June 1925 | |
Other 466th BG Combat Tour |
Attlebridge, Norwich, Norfolk NR9, UK | 25 August 1944 - 25 February 1945 | |
Died |
Palm Harbor, FL, USA | 5 November 2010 | BUTTS, Willis Watchell age 85 of Palm Harbor, passed away Friday, Nov. 5th at Suncoast Hospice in Palm Harbor after an extended illness. He was born in Cateechee, SC on June 18, 1925 to Simon Paul and Lillie Dean Butts. He grew up in Walhalla, SC where he married his childhood sweetheart Evelyn Good. Willis served his country during WWII, flying 30 missions over Germany. After returning home he received his BS from Clemson University and after a stint as an apple/peach grower decided to join his wife as a teacher. They moved to St. Petersburg in 1957 with their son Dan. Willis received his Masters and then an EDS degree and spent the last 15 years of his 25 year education career as a high school counselor at Clearwater High School. After retiring from the school system, Willis moved to Spring Hill, where he provided low cost housing to needy families. Willis devoted his life to helping others. He is survived by his wife, Evelyn; their son, Dan and a sister, Vera Keffer as well as four grandchildren & four great-grandchildren. Curlew Hills Funeral Home 1750 Curlew Road, Palm Harbor, FL will host visitation Tuesday Nov. 9 from 12-2 with services afterward and burial to follow at Curlew Memory Gardens. |
Buried |
Palm Harbor, FL, USA | 9 November 2010 | Curlew Hills Memory Gardens Palm Harbor Pinellas County Florida, USA |
Other Graduated |
Clemson, SC, USA | Bachelor of Science Clemson University |
Revisions
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Unit roster in the book ATTLEBRIDGE ARSENAL by Wassom & Brassfield, p 343