William R. Lawley Jr.

Add links
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
William Robert Lawley Jr.
Elderly white man wearing a suit, tie, and glasses, with a medal hanging from a ribbon around his neck.
Lawley in 1997
Born(1920-08-23)August 23, 1920
Leeds, Alabama, U.S.
DiedMay 30, 1999(1999-05-30) (aged 78)
Montgomery, Alabama
Place of burial
Greenwood Cemetery, Montgomery, Alabama, U.S.
AllegianceUnited States of America
Service/branchUnited States Air Force
Years of service1942 - 1972
RankColonel
Unit364th Bombardment Squadron, 305th Bomb Group (Heavy)
Commands held55th Air Refueling Squadron
Battles/warsWorld War II
AwardsMedal of Honor
Legion of Merit
Purple Heart
Air Medal (2)

William Robert Lawley Jr. (August 23, 1920 – May 30, 1999) was a United States Army Air Forces officer and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in World War II.[1]

Early life

Born in 1920 in Leeds, Alabama, Lawley graduated from high school in his hometown in 1938.[2]

Military career

Lawley joined the Army Air Forces from Birmingham, Alabama in April 1942,[3] and earned his wings and commission at Altus, Oklahoma, in April 1943.[2]

World War II

305th BG B-17

By February 20, 1944, Lawley was a

B-17 Flying Fortress came under attack by enemy fighter aircraft. With his plane severely damaged and on fire, he ordered his crew to parachute to safety. Finding that two crewmen were too badly injured to bail out, Lawley chose to remain in the aircraft and, despite his own serious wounds, attempt to pilot it into friendly territory. Although weakened from loss of blood and shock, he was able to make a successful crash landing in England. Lawley recovered from his wounds and, on August 8, 1944, was awarded the Medal of Honor.[2]

Lawley flew 14 combat missions until June 1944 as a

Maxwell Field in Alabama.[2]

Post war

He went to HQ United States Air Force in the Pentagon as administrative assistant to Maj. Gen. David Schlatter in a special weapons assignment, with promotion to major in August 1949.[2]

In February 1950, he held special assignments to the commanding general of

Forbes Air Force Base in Kansas. He continued to serve at Forbes AFB as Aircrew Maintenance Staff Officer for the 21st Air Division, and later as Deputy Base Commander and Deputy Vice Commander of the 815th Combat Support Group.[2]

Lawley was promoted to colonel on March 27, 1959. In January 1963, he became Assistant Phase Chief Director of Curricular at the

Air War College at Maxwell AFB. He retired from the Air Force at the rank of colonel in 1972.[2]

Later life

Lawley and his wife Amy had two daughters and one son, and five grandchildren.[4]

He died at age 78 due to complications from pneumonia. He was buried in Greenwood Cemetery, Montgomery, Alabama.[5][4]

Awards and decorations

Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Silver oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
U.S. Air Force Command pilot badge
Medal of Honor Legion of Merit
Purple Heart Air Medal
with bronze oak leaf cluster 		Air Force Presidential Unit Citation
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award

with bronze oak leaf cluster 		American Campaign Medal
campaign stars
World War II Victory Medal National Defense Service Medal
with service star
Air Force Longevity Service Award

with silver and bronze oak leaf clusters

Medal of Honor citation

Lawley's official Medal of Honor citation reads:[6]

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action above and beyond the call of duty, 20 February 1944, while serving as pilot of a B-17 aircraft on a heavy bombardment mission over enemy-occupied continental Europe. Coming off the target he was attacked by approximately 20 enemy fighters, shot out of formation, and his plane severely crippled. Eight crewmembers were wounded, the copilot was killed by a

bombardier and again took over the controls. Coming over the English coast 1 engine ran out of gasoline and had to be feathered
. Another engine started to burn and continued to do so until a successful crash landing was made on a small fighter base. Through his heroism and exceptional flying skill, 1st Lt. Lawley rendered outstanding distinguished and valorous service to our Nation.

See also

References

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Army Center of Military History.
Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Air Force
  1. Richard Goldstein (1 June 1999). "Col. W. R. Lawley Jr., 78, World War II Hero". The New York Times
    . p. C 13. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "Lawley -- 1st Lt William R Lawley Jr". Air Force Historical Support Division. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
  3. ^ WWII Army Enlistment Records
  4. ^ a b Goldstein, Richard (1999-06-01). "Col. W. R. Lawley Jr., 78, World War II Hero". The New York Times. Retrieved 2023-05-29.
  5. ^ Obituary
  6. ^ "First Lieutenant Lawley, William R., Jr., U.S. Army". CMOHS.org. Congressional Medal of Honor Society. Retrieved July 27, 2020.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=William_R._Lawley_Jr.&oldid=1206597211"