Gerald Evan Williams

Service record Service Group !! Location(s) !! Date

26 Jan 19441 Oct 1944 Williams was rated command pilot, combat observer, navigator (celestial and dead reckoning), bombardier and unlimited pilot.

Williams was next assigned to Langley Field, VA with the 20th Bombardment Squadron. In February 1937 he served as navigator for a flight from Langley Field to Panama, participating in the then-longest non-stop army flight.

Military ranks and dates Rank Part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's prescient Hemispheric Defense Initiative, the history-making flight commanded by Col. Robert Olds traveled 6,000 miles from Langley Field, Virginia, to Lima, Peru and Buenos Aires, Argentina, where Roberto M. Ortiz was being inaugurated as president. The feat was widely publicized, and an Air Corps newsletter provided lengthy descriptions. "On a bitingly cold Tuesday morning, at 9 o'clock, February 15, to be exact, the last of the six Boeings lifted gracefully into the air headed south for Miami. This departure was an example of all of the other take-offs of the flight. They were two minutes apart, the flight commander being the first to push the nose of his flying fortress into the cold ozone. With him he carried the greetings of Pres. Franklin D. Roosevelt to the President-elect of the Argentine, Roberto Ortiz."

"As the planes flew toward the appointed rendezvous at Point Salinas, just north of Lima, thousands of Peruvian officials and aviation fans at the Loma Tambo airport were eagerly awaiting the visitors from the Big neighbor of the North. Where frightened civilians in other countries during the past quarter century scanned the skies with dread, these friendly people were eagerly awaiting these Ambassadors of Good Will, who were bringing not bombs but messages of Friendship. Landing at 4:25 PM, the six planes made the record non-stop flight of 2695 miles in 15 hours and 32 minutes." a newspaper article proclaimed, "Famed Aviator Visits His Home Town." "The purpose of the extended navigation trip is to determine the suitability of the new type drift meter and periodic compass. the trip up was by day to try it out for daytime use."

World War II

Col. Gerald E. Williams with members of crew, 391st B-26 Marauder group, France, 1944. Col. Gerald E. Williams, awarded Silver Star medal and second Oak Leaf Cluster to his Distinguished Flying Cross. France, May 1945. During the Second World War, Williams became a renowned officer in the U.S. Army Air Forces' Ninth Air Force as commander of the B-26 'Marauder' twin engined medium bombers of the 391st Bombardment Group of the Ninth Bomb Group. from 1943 to 1945. He personally led more than 75 missions, often placing himself as lead pilot in his B-26 Lady Belle on low-level bombing runs against heavily defended Axis targets in Occupied France. The Lady Belle, was named after his mother, Belle Williams. As a California newspaper reported, "In less than eight months of operation the Black Death's Marauders carried destruction to 167 German targets." Citing over 200 missions by Williams' B-26 Marauder group, the late December attack at Ahrweiler, Germany was notable. "The viaduct was wiped out, but the Marauders were jumped by 50 to 100 Luftwaffe fighters in the 'Black Death' group for the bitterest battle of its combat history. Their guns accounted for at least 11 German fighters and four probables. The group, however suffered its heaviest losses since being in operation. Under Col. Williams 'superior leadership and his superb power of organization' the group went back the same day to Germany for a second mission to successfully blast a heavily defended town. Then for three succeeding days Williams' Marauders dealt four smashing blows at German targets without losses."

The raid on the bridge at Nantes, France, on July 31, 1944 resulted in the second Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster added to his Distinguished Flying Cross. "The inexorable determination, outstanding skill and unhesitating courage of the officers and men of the group in so brilliantly carrying the attack to the enemy is in keeping with the highest traditions of the Army Air Forces."

The citation continued:

"lthough his formation was subjected to intense anti-aircraft fire, Colonel Williams gallantly led his formation to attack the assigned target with superior bombing results. The bombs were released on three road intersections and twenty-seven large buildings were left blazing after the devastating attack. Colonel Williams' fortitude and extreme determination in the face of overwhelming odds contributed materially to the success of joint air-ground operations in the Ardennes Salient and his courageous leadership and coolness under fire reflect high credit upon himself and the Army Air Forces."

Buenos Aires On April 21, 1948 Williams was appointed Assistant Air Attaché to the American Embassy in Buenos Aires. He worked under Brigadier General B. H. Hovey, the U.S. air attaché. On February 17, 1949, Williams, his wife and six other Air Force officers and enlisted men, were killed when the Air Force C-47 transport piloted by Williams crashed on an Andean mountain in northwestern Argentina, on a flight from Panama en route to Buenos Aires. Williams and his wife were buried at the Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas. The Congregational Church in Presque Isle, Maine held a memorial service at 11:00 on a Wednesday morning—the very same time as the funeral services in San Antonio.