★★★ Memorial Monday ★★★
1LT John Willey, US Army was a former member of the Class of 1944; he resigned in April 1941. On August 30, 1943 he was a pilot of a P-38 Lightning fighter with the Army Air Forces over Italy when he was killed in action. He was a member of the 71st Fighter Squadron, and escorting a group of heavy bombers at the time. His fighter group consisted of 44 aircraft; they were engaged by 75 German fighters. Thirteen of the American aircraft were lost in the engagement, though not all of the pilots were killed.
His high school yearbook wrote "he was a hit with all the gals, noted for his conceit ... named Apollo in the school horoscope ... in the future, he owns an escort bureau ... bequeathed his green satin shirt to xx to make the girls jealous with."
A recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross, he was survived by his mother.
To Honor! ⚓
https://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/JOHN_S._WILLEY,_1LT,_USA