Wiliam S. King

Mr. King was a Veteran of the US Air Force, serving during World War II. He was awarded, by order of the President of the United States, the Distinguished Flying Cross, July 14, 1995, after being reunited with the pilot whose life he saved at a reunion of their Squadron. Sgt. King was a Bombardier with the 422 Bomb Squadron, 305th Bomb Group. On March 18, 1945, he was responsible for the pilot ob a B-17 aircrafts narrow escape from death. While on a mission to bomb Berlin, the #1 engine of the aircraft went out. It was able to continue it’s mission, however, just as Sgt. King released the bombs, they were attacked by enemy aircraft. Parts of the right wing were blown off and the remainder burst into flames. The Co-pilot and Top Gunner immediately bailed out. Sgt. King moved to the top gunner’s position to man the guns. The pilot sent the rest of the crew to bail out. Sgt. King was informed that the pilot was unable to get out of his flak jacket to put on his parachute without losing control of the aircraft. Sgt. King removed his own parachute to get into the cockpit to hold the plane until the pilot could get into his parachute. Both were able to bail out through the nose of the plane. Sgt. King was subsequently reported “missing in action”.He is survived by his grother in law Robert Clark of Chardon Twp., Many Nieces and Nephews out of the area and Debbie Maccora of Canton and Kathy Cseplo of Concord Twp. His wife Elizabeth “Betty” Anderson King, parents Merril and Ethel (McGann) King, sisters Dorothy King, Kate Wyss and Phyllis Clark amd brothers Wallace and Ralph King are all deceased.