William Roderick Cameron
Military
Best Web - B-24 - Victory ship - William Cameron
Object Number - FRE 640 - A medical truck and ground personnel of the 44th Bomb Group on standby as a B-24D Liberator with the RCL, V, and the serial number 41-23813, named,...
Col. William R. Cameron took part in Operation Tidal Wave, the Ploesti bombing mission on 1 August 1943, flying the B-24D Liberator, 41-24229, named, Buzzin' Bear, and returned to base. 1 Aug 43.
He flew a total of 38 combat missions. He not only came over to England with the 8th Air Force and the 44th Bomb Group, but he was the only pilot to, then, go back home with them at the end of the war. "He was one of the best combat leaders we had." was a quote by Gen. Leon Johnson "He took his plane through the Ploesti inferno lower than most other pilots and got her home with only minor damage, originally earning the Silver Star for his part in the historic raid". The Silver Star was deleted in 9th Air Force General Orders on 25 February, 1944 which was the day after his Silver Star was upgraded to the Distinguished Service Cross, on 24 February, 1944.
He married General Joseph Stillwell's daughter.
His many military medals included, The Distinguished Service Cross, The Distinguished Flying Cross with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, and The Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters.
Connections
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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: 44th Bomb Group 67th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: T-190739
- Highest Rank: Flight Officer
- Role/Job: Navigator/Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 67th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-727322
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 67th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-665729
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: - Seeds of Satan - Miss Delores - Buzzin' Bear
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 67th Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 1 August 1943
- Official Description:
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Enlisted |
5 January 1942 | Enlisted Fresno, CA as Aviation Cadet. | |
|
Born |
Hanford, California |
Revisions
NARA files verified DSC upgrade from SS, deletion of SS in General Orders, DFC w/1 oak leaf cluster and AM w/3 oak leaf clusters. He earned at least one bronze star on the EAME Campaign Medal.
'Ploesti' by Dugan & Stewart & p224 in the book SECOND AIR DIVISION edited by Randy Baumgardner, D790.A2S45 / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia
![Personnel of the 44th Bomb Group prepare for a mission. Image via Colonel William R Cameron. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Slap done.' [?]](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-379075.jpg.webp?itok=j3n64-O4)
