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~SOLD~LAWLEY , Jr. WILLIAM ROBERT "BILL"
William Robert "Bill" Lawley, Jr. (August 23, 1920 – May 29, 1999)
On the first day day of "Big Week," when the Army Air Forces wrenched control of the sky from the German Luftwaffe during World War II, then-1st Lt. William Lawley showed extraordinary bravery and courage in bringing home a crippled aircraft with a barely functioning crew. It was Feb. 20, 1944 and the mission was to bomb a factory in Leipzig, Germany. For his actions, he was awarded the nation's highest military honor, the Medal of Honor.
Lawley was born in Leeds, Ala., in August 1920 and graduated from high school in his hometown in 1938. He enlisted in Birmingham, Ala., in August 1942 for flying training and got his wings and commission at Altus, Okla., in April 1943. He had assignments in Moses Lake and Walla Walla, Wash., for training. He went to Europe that November as a B-17 Flying Fortress pilot with the 364th Bomb Sqadron.
On Feb. 20, 1944, the start of "Big Week" was a go. Weather over Europe was clear and the 8th Air Force, with headquarters in England, had more than 1,000 heavy bombers ready, with auxiliary fuel tanks extending their range, making the total air armada number more than 2,000 bombers and fighters. Several hours into the operation, the 364th was on its bomb run at 28,000 feet, targeting a Messerschmitt assembly plant at Leipzig, deep in the heart of Germany. The B-17s had encountered heavy flak en route and attacks by enemy fighters. However, Lawley had a bigger problem, the bombs in the bay of his B-17 would not release. Since he couldn't release his bombs, he came off his target, working hard to keep the bomb-laden plane in formation. In an instant, he saw 20 enemy fighters boring in head-on to his aircraft. The cockpit exploded. His head was slammed back against the seat and his eyes were clouded with his blood, but he could see his copilot slumped over the controls. Lawley quickly assessed the situation: eight crew members were wounded, the copilot was dead, one engine was on fire, the controls were shot away and he was seriously and painfully wounded about the face. To make it worse, the aircraft was in an almost vertical dive.
Lawley forced the copilot's body off the control column and, with his left hand, fought for control of the stricken plane. At 12,000 feet, using every trick he knew,he regained enough control to give the order for the remaining crew to bail out. But one of the waist gunners informed him that two crew members were so severely wounded that it would be impossible for them to bail out. With the engine fire spreading, the danger of an explosion was imminent. Because of the helpless condition of his wounded crew members, Lawley elected to remain with the plane and bring them to safety if it was humanly possible. He gave the other crew members the option of bailing out. Evading attack by enemy fighters, Lawley turned the bomber toward the English coast, several hundred miles away. For hours, Lawley remained at his post, refusing first aid until he finally collapsed from exhaustion caused by blood, shock and the energy he had expended in keeping control of his plane. He was revived by his bombardier and again took over the controls. Coming over the English coast, one engine ran out of fuel. Another engine started to burn and continued to do so until a successful crash landing was made at Redhill, a small fighter strip south of London. It was nearly five hours since the B-17 had been hit over Leipzig. All the wounded, whom Lawley had refused to abandon, survived the ordeal.
He flew 14 more combat missions until June 1944 as a first lieutenant. He returned to the United States in September 1944. There he was assistant to the Chief of Industrial Services Branch and public relations officer with 2137th Army Air Forces Base Unit at Hendricks Field, Fla. He then served as aide to Maj. Gen. Muir S. Fairchild at Maxwell Field, Ala., until May 1948. During this assignment he completed the regular course at the Air Tactical School, Tyndall AFB, Fla. In June 1948, he was assigned as administrative assistant to Maj.Gen. David M. Schlatter, 1009th Special Weapons Squadron at Headquarters U.S. Air Force in Washington, D.C.
In February 1950, he was assigned as acting Commander and later administrative assistant to the Commanding General of the Air Research and Development Command in Washington. He completed the language course at Navy Language School at Fort Myer, Va., in February 1951 and the intelligence coarse at the Strategic Intelligence School in Washington, D. C. in April 1951. He was assigned as the assistant air attache to Brazil until 1954 when he returned to attend Air Command and Staff School at Maxwell AFB, Ala.
At Forbes AFB, Kan. he had a variety of assignments. He retired from active duty as a colonel in 1972.
His other decorations include two Air Medals, Purple Heart, American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with three Bronze service stars, Presidential Unit Citation Emblem, World War II Victory Medal and National Defense Service Medal.
He passed away at age 78 in Montgomery, Ala.
Information compiled from military personnel records and U.S. Air Force Historical Studies Office.
LAWLEY, WILLIAM R., JR.
(Air Mission)
Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, U.S. Army Air Corps, 364th Bomber Squadron, 305th Bomber Group. Place and date: Over Europe, 20 February 1944. Entered service at: Birmingham, Ala. Born: 23 August 1920, Leeds, Ala. G.O. No.: 64, 8 August 1944.
Citation:
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 20-mm. 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 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 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.
Signed Postwar photo measuring 4” x 5”
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