David Leonard Willetts
MilitaryStanding Left to Right: Richard C. Muir (B/N), David L. Willetts (P/Sqdn CO), Peter G Royalty (Sqdn B/N), John W. Rose (G)
Retired Air Force Col. David Willetts was born in Morgantown, W.Va. After attending the University of West Virginia, he joined the Army Air Corps.
While stationed at the Lake Charles Army Airfield, he met Paula Partridge. They were married when he returned from the war. He served in World War II as a bomber pilot, flying 57 combat missions over Europe as commander in the 671st European Theater of Operations. On June 6, 1944 — D DAY — he flew the lead aircraft of 74 A20 bombers over France. His other missions included the Battle of the Bulge. At the time, he was one of the youngest men in the Air Corp to hold his rank and position. During this time, David had Paula's name painted across the front of his A-26 aircraft.
After the war, David returned immediately to Lake Charles and, within days, he and Paula were married. Their first assignment was in Tokyo, Japan, where he served on Gen. Douglas MacArthur's staff. After three years, he, with his wife, returned to serve four years at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and then served as assistant air attache in Rio De Janiero, Brazil, and later at Luke Air Force Base in Phoenix, Ariz. They retired to Palm Desert, Calif
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 416th Bomb Group 671st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 38190462
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade)
- Role/Job: Aerial Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 416th Bomb Group 671st Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier/Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 416th Bomb Group 671st Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade)
- Role/Job: Aerial Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 416th Bomb Group 671st Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier/Navigator - Squadron Bombardier
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: A-20 Havoc
- Nicknames: Paula E II Bootsie
- Unit: 410th Bomb Group 416th Bomb Group 646th Bomb Squadron 671st Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: A-26 Invader
- Nicknames: Jiggs
- Unit: 416th Bomb Group 671st Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: A-26 Invader
- Nicknames: Reida Rae
- Unit: 416th Bomb Group 671st Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: A-26 Invader
- Unit: 416th Bomb Group 668th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: A-26 Invader
- Unit: 416th Bomb Group
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Melun, Alsace
- Site type: Airfield
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Morgantown, WV | 26 October 1919 | |
Enlisted |
Columbus, Ohio | 23 April 1941 | Fort Hays |
Other First 416th BG Combat Mission |
Conches, France | 7 March 1944 | |
Other Final 416th BG Combat Mission |
Hamelin, Germany | 3 April 1945 | Flew 57 combat missions |
Died |
Palm Desert, CA | 26 June 2010 |
Revisions
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/55892447/david-l.-willetts
http://www.416th.com/missions/LoadingList.html
https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/2345/images/40014_1821…
https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=8939&h=2393621…
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/55892447/david-l.-willetts