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Fighter
Squadron, 348th Fighter Group, Fifth Air Force, in action during an escort mission to Clark Field, Luzon, Philippine Islands, on 24 December 1944. Following his plan of preceding a main body of fighters to gain information on the deployment of enemy opposition, Major Banks led an element of two of a total force of sixty-six P-47 type aircraft. On approaching the target, he climbed to attack several enemy airplanes and, concentrating his fire on one of them, sent it crashing to the ground. After apprising his formation of the strength and deployment of Japanese aircraft in the area, he joined in the ensuing battle and brought down another fighter which was trying to escape. His squadron, taking full advantage of the advance information he supplied, accounted for thirty-two of the interceptors. The outstanding leadership and gallantry displayed by Major Banks reflect the highest traditions of the United States Army Air Forces.
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484:, New York in 185 feet (56 m) of water, was destroyed by a winter storm, resulting in the deaths of all twenty-eight airmen and civilian contractors who were manning the station. Banks was charged with involuntary manslaughter and two other officers, commanding officer and executive officer of the 4604th Air Support Squadron, were charged with dereliction of duty. All the charges against them were dismissed by a court martial board on June and August 1961.
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The
President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Major (Air Corps) William McGowan Banks (ASN: 0–429515), United States Army Air Forces, for gallantry in action as Pilot of a P-47 fighter airplane of the 342d
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During World War II, Banks was credited with the destruction of 9 enemy aircraft, while flying 237 combat missions. While serving with the 348th FG, he flew P-47s and P-51 bearing the name "Sunshine".
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in
Alabama, from June 1951 to June 1952, he served in a variety of command and staff positions over the next several years, including serving as Chief of the Air Force Section with
403:, Banks shot down two more Zeroes, part of a group of Japanese aircraft attempting to harass the bombers, which were his final aerial victories of the war. He was awarded a
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332:. The unit soon started flying P-47s in combat operations and on September 13, 1943, Banks scored his first aerial victory, when he shot down a
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in Texas, where he served on the staff with
Headquarters San Antonio Air Material Area. He retired from the Air Force on July 1, 1963.
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attacking
Japanese airfields and other industrial targets. During the fighter sweeps conducted in December 1944, Banks shot down a
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He rejoined the 348th FG several months later. During this time, the 348th FG began flying missions in support of the
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in Texas, from March 1941 to
October 1941. In November 1941, he was awarded his pilot wings and was commissioned as
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on
December 11 and on December 24, on a mission to escort several B-24s on a bombing mission of the Japanese-held
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P-51K-10 "SUNSHINE VII" was flown by Banks from le Shima during the final months of the war in the
Pacific (1945)
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on
December 20, when he shot down another Ki-46, his fifth aerial victory. On January 31, 1944, he shot down a
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Banks died on May 6, 1983, at the age of 67. He was buried at the Sunset
Memorial Park in
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422:. In June 1945, he was made commander of the 348th FG and the unit moved to airfield at
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1107:"Colonel Cleared In Fall of Tower; Court-Martial Finds Case of Negligence Not Proved"
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1131:"1961 Press Photo Air Force Colonel William M. Banks Calls Wife after Acquittal"
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After the end of World War II, Banks continued to serve in the newly created
434:. He remained in the command of the 348th FG in Ie Shima till November 1945.
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After completing college, he enlisted in the Aviation Cadet Program of the
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On January 15, 1961, while serving as the deputy commander of the
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360:, his sixth and final aerial victory of his first tour. He took a
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and on the same month, the 348th FG transitioned from P-47s to
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in October 1942 and in November 1942, he was assigned to the
1202:
Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)
865:
880:
342nd Fighter Squadron, 348th Fighter Group, 5th Air Force
285:
on December 7, 1941. In July 1942, he was assigned to the
387:, where they began flying long-range bomber escorts for
324:
in May 1943. In late July 1943, the 348th FG arrived in
309:, where he made the commanding officer of the squadron.
265:
After receiving his pilot wings, he was assigned to the
193:(September 1, 1915 – May 6, 1983) was an American
430:, where they began flying long-range missions over the
984:'Twelve to One' V Fighter Command Aces of the Pacific
312:
The 348th Fighter Group, which was equipped with the
225:
in 1933 and received an honorable discharge on 1936.
1217:
United States Army Air Forces pilots of World War II
336:"Oscar". On September 15, he shot down a Ki-43 and
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237:on March 15, 1941. He served as a flying cadet at
1081:"Colonel Charged in Texas Tower Fall Fatal to 28"
778:with one silver and two bronze oak leaf clusters
379:. In early November 1944, the 348th FG moved to
348:"Dinah" reconnaissance aircraft. He became a
209:in 1963, after 30 years of military service.
8:
29:
18:
1177:People from Raleigh County, West Virginia
739:
902:
877:Major (Air Corps), U.S. Army Air Forces
1242:West Virginia National Guard personnel
1212:United States Army Air Forces officers
364:in the United States on May 24, 1944.
344:, and on September 25, he shot down a
1182:Military personnel from West Virginia
1105:Johnston, Richard J.H. (1961-08-25).
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410:In February 1945, he was promoted to
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787:Air Force Presidential Unit Citation
297:in Connecticut and was promoted to
769:with two bronze oak leaf clusters
459:Military Assistance Advisory Group
14:
1222:American World War II flying aces
1197:Recipients of the Legion of Merit
883:Date of Action: December 24, 1944
847:Air Force Longevity Service Award
465:from December 1951 to July 1954.
1227:United States Air Force colonels
1029:"Valor Awards for William Banks"
796:Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
730:
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487:Banks' final assignment was at
320:, before being assigned to the
318:East Coast of the United States
283:Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor
16:American flying ace (1915–1983)
1232:American expatriates in Norway
987:. Bloomsbury USA. p. 94.
837:National Defense Service Medal
813:Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
801:American Defense Service Medal
1:
1192:Recipients of the Silver Star
1056:"Court Martial Acquits Banks"
850:with silver oak leaf cluster
790:with bronze oak leaf cluster
782:Air Force Commendation Medal
316:, undertook training at the
223:West Virginia National Guard
1207:Recipients of the Air Medal
1187:Aviators from West Virginia
981:Tony Holmes (27 Apr 2004).
854:Philippine Liberation Medal
1258:
823:World War II Victory Medal
766:Distinguished Flying Cross
257:Banks onboard his P-47 in
177:Distinguished Flying Cross
742:
516:
470:Boston Air Defense Sector
28:
1237:Burials in West Virginia
828:Army of Occupation Medal
744:USAF Command Pilot badge
806:American Campaign Medal
447:United States Air Force
322:Asiatic-Pacific Theater
207:United States Air Force
146:Headquarters Squadron,
97:United States Air Force
870:
507:Awards and decorations
501:Beckley, West Virginia
474:Stewart Air Force Base
455:Maxwell Air Force Base
372:
303:342nd Fighter Squadron
262:
219:Raleigh, West Virginia
135:342nd Fighter Squadron
59:Raleigh, West Virginia
869:
432:Japanese Home Islands
370:
287:90th Fighter Squadron
267:62nd Pursuit Squadron
256:
191:William McGowan Banks
103:Years of service
23:William McGowan Banks
862:Silver Star citation
511:His awards include:
489:Kelly Air Force Base
377:Philippines campaign
1141:on January 29, 2023
831:with 'Japan' clasp
307:348th Fighter Group
235:U.S. Army Air Corps
221:, Banks joined the
199:348th Fighter Group
139:348th Fighter Group
125:348th Fighter Group
1111:The New York Times
947:"William M. Banks"
918:Together We Served
914:"William M. Banks"
871:
449:. After attending
412:lieutenant colonel
393:Mitsubishi A6M3-32
373:
291:80th Fighter Group
271:56th Pursuit Group
263:
201:. He retired as a
143:82nd Fighter Group
76:San Antonio, Texas
874:Banks, William M.
859:
858:
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407:for this action.
314:P-47 Thunderbolts
243:second lieutenant
188:
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148:33rd Fighter Wing
56:September 1, 1915
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1137:. Archived from
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1085:Sarasota Journal
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1060:The Evening News
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997:. Archived from
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951:Veteran Tributes
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761:oak leaf cluster
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346:Mitsubishi Ki-46
281:, following the
217:Born on 1915 in
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756:Legion of Merit
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451:Air War College
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389:B-24 Liberators
358:Cape Gloucester
356:"Tony" east of
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229:Military career
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172:Legion of Merit
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381:Tacloban Field
354:Kawasaki Ki-61
334:Nakajima Ki-43
277:in defence of
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73:(aged 67)
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1001:on 2022-09-23
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994:9781841767840
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818:campaign star
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478:Texas Tower 4
476:in New York,
475:
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448:
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420:San Marcelino
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416:P-51 Mustangs
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295:Bradley Field
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275:P-40 Warhawks
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86:United States
85:
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1143:. Retrieved
1139:the original
1134:
1125:
1114:. Retrieved
1110:
1100:
1089:. Retrieved
1087:. 1961-03-22
1084:
1075:
1064:. Retrieved
1062:. 1961-08-24
1059:
1036:. Retrieved
1032:
1003:. Retrieved
999:the original
983:
954:. Retrieved
950:
921:. Retrieved
917:
891:
842:service star
816:with silver
759:with bronze
510:
498:
486:
467:
444:
436:
409:
374:
311:
264:
249:World War II
232:
216:
190:
189:
158:World War II
154:Battles/wars
71:(1983-05-06)
1172:1983 deaths
1167:1915 births
751:Silver Star
482:Long Island
405:Silver Star
397:Clark Field
362:shore leave
239:Kelly Field
168:Silver Star
69:May 6, 1983
38:Nickname(s)
1161:Categories
1145:August 13,
1116:2022-10-17
1091:2022-10-17
1066:2022-10-17
1038:2022-10-17
1005:2022-10-17
956:2022-10-17
923:2022-10-17
897:References
495:Later life
350:flying ace
326:New Guinea
213:Early life
195:flying ace
83:Allegiance
52:1915-09-01
888:Citation:
775:Air Medal
330:Australia
273:and flew
205:from the
182:Air Medal
106:1933–1963
441:Post war
424:Ie Shima
338:A6M Zero
279:New York
131:Commands
91:Service/
428:Okinawa
305:of the
299:captain
289:of the
269:of the
203:colonel
197:in the
115:Colonel
991:
463:Norway
261:(1944)
164:Awards
93:branch
78:, U.S.
61:, U.S.
840:with
401:Luzon
385:Leyte
342:Wewak
340:over
259:Leyte
1147:2023
1135:eBay
989:ISBN
328:via
121:Unit
111:Rank
66:Died
46:Born
41:Bill
472:at
461:in
453:at
426:in
418:at
399:at
383:in
293:at
184:(8)
179:(3)
174:(2)
1163::
1133:.
1109:.
1083:.
1058:.
1047:^
1031:.
1014:^
965:^
949:.
932:^
916:.
905:^
503:.
245:.
1149:.
1119:.
1094:.
1069:.
1041:.
1008:.
959:.
926:.
54:)
50:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
