Assigned to 336FS, 4FG, 8AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) fighter sweep to Stendall, Germany. Post combat, climbing out, section flew through intense and accurate flak, one aircaft suffered direct hit and in the ensuing avoidance of debris, suffered mid air collision with P-51B 43-24787 [Lt Sam Young] 30-May-44. A/C abandoned. Pilot Capt Willard Millikan POW. MACR 5488.



Born 4 October 1918 in Hamburg, Iowa, Willard grew attended Peru State College. He wanted to join the Army Air Corps as an Aviation Cadet. In order to be accepted into the programme he needed extensive dental work, which was very expensive. Finally accepted into the programme, his worry over his debt distracted his attention to the point that his flying was unsatisfactory and he was washed out.

He went to Canada and joined the RCAF, completing his training as a fighter pilot, and was sent to England. Upon the U.S. entry into the war and the inception of the 4th fighter Group, he transferred into the U.S. Army Air Corps and was assigned to the 4th Fighter Group, 336th Squadron.

During his time in England he married an English girl and they eventually had a baby daughter.

Millikan scored his first victory, an Fw-190 in September 1943, and followed with three singles in the next six months. On 8 April 1944, during a battle with a group of Me-109s near Ulzen, he shot down three to become an "Ace". He later got another single, and then on 22 April he got four more '109s near Kassel.

On a mission on 30 May "Millie", as he was known, took his squadron on a climb to rescue "Deacon " Hively, who was being chased by 30-plus enemy fighters. They dove for the deck closely followed by Millikan's squadron. Down low, the flak gunners opened up and Millie's wingman, Sam Young, was hit. His plane reacted violently and its nose rammed Millie's plane, cutting it in half behind the pilot. With complete loss of control, the plane went into a spin, and as Millie released his seat belt he was violently thrown from the plane. As he plummeted downward he was unable to deploy his parachute as the nose of the plane followed him. The plane finally passed him and in his descent and he belatedly opened his 'chute, landed, and was immediately captured by German soldiers. He spent the rest of the war as a POW.

Willard stayed in the Air Force until 1946, when he was discharged as a Major. He then served in the District of Columbia Air National Guard. As an employee of Goodyear, he set a West-East speed record in an F-86 flying from Los Angeles to New York in slightly over four hours. Eventually he retired from the ANG as a Brigadier General. He suffered a fatal heart attack in October 1978.

"Millie" had 13 confirmed victories and had earned the Distinguished Service Cross, the Silver Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross with four Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Air Medal with three oak Leaf Clusters.



Awards: DSC, DFC (5 OLC), AM (3 OLC), PH, POW, Legion of Merit, Silver Star, WWII Victory.



Post war: Retires USAF as Major General in 1969.