693:
was impossible. With a full bomb load the plane was difficult to maneuver and bombs could not be released because the racks were frozen. After the order to bail out had been given, 1 of the waist gunners informed the pilot that 2 crewmembers were so severely wounded that it would be impossible for them to bail out. With the fire in the engine spreading, the danger of an explosion was imminent. Because of the helpless condition of his wounded crewmembers 1st Lt. Lawley elected to remain with the ship and bring them to safety if it was humanly possible, giving the other crewmembers the option of bailing out. Enemy fighters again attacked but by using masterful evasive action he managed to lose them. One engine again caught on fire and was extinguished by skillful flying. 1st Lt. Lawley remained at his post, refusing first aid until he collapsed from sheer exhaustion caused by loss of blood, shock, and the energy he had expended in keeping control of his plane. He was revived by the
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shell. One engine was on fire, the controls shot away, and 1st Lt. Lawley seriously and painfully wounded about the face. Forcing the copilot's body off the controls, he brought the plane out of a steep dive, flying with his left hand only. Blood covered the instruments and windshield and visibility
687:
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
701:. 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.
275:
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
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Lawley was promoted to colonel on March 27, 1959. In
January 1963, he became Assistant Phase Chief Director of Curricular at the
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and again took over the controls. Coming over the
English coast 1 engine ran out of gasoline and had to be
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of formation, and his plane severely crippled. Eight crewmembers were wounded, the copilot was killed by a
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291:. He returned to the United States in September 1944, serving as a public relations officer at
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in Kansas. He continued to serve at Forbes AFB as
Aircrew Maintenance Staff Officer for the
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284:. Lawley recovered from his wounds and, on August 8, 1944, was awarded the Medal of Honor.
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Lawley and his wife Amy had two daughters and one son, and five grandchildren.
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officer and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the
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at
Maxwell AFB. He retired from the Air Force at the rank of colonel in 1972.
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362:, serving until 1954. Upon his return to the United States, he attended the
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In
February 1950, he held special assignments to the commanding general of
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271:. With his plane severely damaged and on fire, he ordered his crew to
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in
Alabama, and on graduation was assigned as commander of the
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in
Florida, serving during part of this time as aide to Gen.
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in
January 1945, he completed the public relations course at
975:
United States Army Air Forces Medal of Honor recipients
227:
in April 1942, and earned his wings and commission at
903:"First Lieutenant Lawley, William R., Jr., U.S. Army"
965:
United States Army Air Forces pilots of World War II
287:
Lawley flew 14 combat missions until June 1944 as a
280:, he was able to make a successful crash landing in
331:in a special weapons assignment, with promotion to
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18:
784:
728:List of Medal of Honor recipients for World War II
683:Lawley's official Medal of Honor citation reads:
251:serving as a pilot in the 364th Bomb Squadron,
868:"Col. W. R. Lawley Jr., 78, World War II Hero"
786:"Col. W. R. Lawley Jr., 78, World War II Hero"
642:European–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
980:World War II recipients of the Medal of Honor
750:United States Army Center of Military History
255:. On that day, during a bombing mission over
187:(August 23, 1920 – May 30, 1999) was a
8:
400:He died at age 78 due to complications from
354:in Washington, D.C. After being promoted to
358:, he served as an assistant air attaché to
303:in Alabama and the Air Tactical School at
26:
15:
672:with silver and bronze oak leaf clusters
327:as administrative assistant to Maj. Gen.
323:He went to HQ United States Air Force in
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223:Lawley joined the Army Air Forces from
960:United States Army Air Forces officers
909:. Congressional Medal of Honor Society
828:"Lawley -- 1st Lt William R Lawley Jr"
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832:Air Force Historical Support Division
7:
995:Air Command and Staff College alumni
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820:
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623:Air Force Presidential Unit Citation
340:Air Research and Development Command
247:By February 20, 1944, Lawley was a
748:from websites or documents of the
589:U.S. Air Force Command pilot badge
14:
1005:Recipients of the Legion of Merit
866:Goldstein, Richard (1999-06-01).
669:Air Force Longevity Service Award
1010:Deaths from pneumonia in Alabama
1000:United States Air Force colonels
760: This article incorporates
755:
744: This article incorporates
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630:Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
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950:Military personnel from Alabama
990:American expatriates in Brazil
659:National Defense Service Medal
1:
633:with bronze oak leaf cluster
352:Strategic Intelligence School
189:United States Army Air Forces
852:WWII Army Enlistment Records
364:Air Command and Staff School
970:Recipients of the Air Medal
372:55th Air Refueling Squadron
267:came under attack by enemy
144:55th Air Refueling Squadron
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985:United States air attachés
945:People from Leeds, Alabama
654:World War II Victory Medal
587:
130:364th Bombardment Squadron
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215:in his hometown in 1938.
185:William Robert Lawley Jr.
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20:William Robert Lawley Jr.
295:in Florida. Promoted to
211:, Lawley graduated from
134:305th Bomb Group (Heavy)
90:United States of America
766:United States Air Force
679:Medal of Honor citation
637:American Campaign Medal
293:Hendricks Army Airfield
102:United States Air Force
762:public domain material
746:public domain material
703:
416:Awards and decorations
368:Maxwell Air Force Base
305:Tyndall Air Force Base
244:
955:Aviators from Alabama
685:
376:Forbes Air Force Base
242:
108:Years of service
344:Navy Language School
265:B-17 Flying Fortress
195:—for his actions in
76:Greenwood Cemetery,
410:Montgomery, Alabama
404:. He was buried in
348:Fort Myer, Virginia
225:Birmingham, Alabama
78:Montgomery, Alabama
67:Montgomery, Alabama
872:The New York Times
792:The New York Times
406:Greenwood Cemetery
356:lieutenant colonel
245:
781:Richard Goldstein
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380:21st Air Division
342:, completing the
231:, in April 1943.
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720:Biography portal
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645:with two bronze
618:oak leaf cluster
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335:in August 1949.
289:first lieutenant
269:fighter aircraft
253:305th Bomb Group
249:first lieutenant
207:Born in 1920 in
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783:(1 June 1999).
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601:Legion of Merit
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387:Air War College
329:David Schlatter
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229:Altus, Oklahoma
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219:Military career
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168:Legion of Merit
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72:Place of burial
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48:August 23, 1920
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65:(aged 78)
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51:Leeds, Alabama
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32:Lawley in 1997
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243:305th BG B-17
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911:. Retrieved
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835:. Retrieved
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797:. Retrieved
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686:
682:
664:service star
616:with bronze
608:Purple Heart
399:
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337:
325:the Pentagon
322:
315:in Alabama.
286:
259:-controlled
246:
235:World War II
222:
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197:World War II
184:
183:
172:Purple Heart
154:World War II
150:Battles/wars
63:(1999-05-30)
61:May 30, 1999
940:1999 deaths
935:1920 births
301:Craig Field
213:high school
111:1942 - 1972
929:Categories
877:2023-05-29
799:2 November
734:References
695:bombardier
393:Later life
350:, and the
203:Early life
86:Allegiance
44:1920-08-23
907:CMOHS.org
837:April 27,
699:feathered
613:Air Medal
402:pneumonia
273:parachute
176:Air Medal
913:July 27,
891:Obituary
706:See also
319:Post war
140:Commands
96:Service/
297:captain
282:England
120:Colonel
690:20-mm.
360:Brazil
263:, his
261:Europe
160:Awards
98:branch
80:, U.S.
53:, U.S.
662:with
333:major
278:shock
915:2020
839:2023
801:2020
257:Nazi
126:Unit
116:Rank
58:Died
38:Born
374:at
366:at
346:at
311:at
178:(2)
931::
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858:^
830:.
809:^
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408:,
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132:,
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803:.
752:.
46:)
42:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
