Willard F. Perry and his family lived in Monroe, Michigan at 208 Riverview Avenue. Born in 1924, Willard had one older brother named Oliver. Willard lived with his dad, mom, brother and Ralph D. Delisle and Edna Delisle who his parents rented a room to, to help improve the family’s finances. His dad was a shipping clerk for a local paper mill, making $2,000 a year and his mom took care of the family. Willard’s mom completed 6th grade and his dad completed 8th grade. However, they made education a priority for their boys. Willard attended Monroe High School, and played varsity tennis, he graduated in 1942. After graduation he was employed at the the A&P before he was drafted.

Willard volunteered for the Army on March 29, 1943. On April 5th he was sent to Fort Custer and after a few days to St. Petersburg, Florida for training as part of the Army Air Corps. He finished his basic training at Clearwater, Florida and on May 25th was sent to technical school after earning the rank of Private First Class. In January of 1944 Willard was one of a class of aerial gunners to graduate from gunnery school in Harlington, Texas receiving his aerial gunner wings and a promotion to Corporal.



After training, Corporal Perry was assigned to the 446th Bomb Group who came to be known as “the Bungay Buckaroos” after their base in Suffolk, England. They flew B-24 Liberators on strategic and support missions over Europe, the group was engaged in long-range strategic bombardment of enemy targets in Occupied Europe and Nazi Germany, the group attacked transportation, industrial, oil and other targets as directed. They were also involved in tactical bombardment of enemy forces in France in support of the Operation Overlord landings in Normandy, and the break out in St. Lo in July 1944. The group changed equipment from B-24 Liberators to B-17 Flying Fortresses in July 1944, before they returned to bomb Berlin and other Germany targets. In August of 1944 Willard was awarded a second Oak Leaf Cluster to his Air Medal.

Sergeant Perry lost his life on a bombing mission over Mainz, Germany October 19th. A direct hit from anti-aircraft fire forced the crew to bail out. His body was later found in Germany and re-buried in St. Avold, France. Word was received October 24th by Mr. and Mrs. Winfield Perry of Riverview Avenue that their son is presumed dead by the War Department. Perry who would have been 20 years old that month. In January 1949 the Army announced that they would return Willard’s body from France to Monroe for re-burial at the Field of Honor in Roselawn Memorial Park Cemetery at the request of the family. Air Force Veteran of foreign War Post 1138 served as the honor guard for Willard’s funeral.





Killed in Action (KIA) Crashed near Prum in B-24 'Slightly Dangerous' #4250681