Distinguished Flying Cross with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters, the Bronze Star Medal and the Air Medal with 23 Oak Leaf Clusters.[4]
Memorials
In 2015, Harris was inducted into the Hall of Honor at the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum.[4] The Klamath Falls Chapter of the Air Force Association was named the Bill Harris Chapter in his honor.[4]
William "Bill" Harris was born on June 15, 1916, in Strathmore, California, to Albert Asbury Harris and Harriet Barclay Harris.[2]
He enlisted in the United States Navy in 1936 and served aboard the USS Houston(CA-30). Due to his height, Harris was selected to fly in the back seat of a Curtiss SOC Seagullas a rear gunner and radio operator. In 1940, he was honorably discharged from the Navy.[2]
Harris went on to run Harris Bros. Lumber Co. with his brother Mal and former shipmate Bron Barrett in Springville, California. Upon the United States entering World War II, Harris and Barrett enlisted as pilots in the United States Army Air Corps.[2] Harris graduated from pilot training in California in October 1942 and went on to participate in the Battle of Guadalcanal where he piloted a Lockheed P-38 Lightning in the 339th Fighter Squadron.[4] He soon racked up 16 confirmed kills. At the war's end, Harris was the rank of Lieutenant colonel and commander of the 18th Fighter Group.[2] He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters, the Bronze Star Medal and the Air Medal with 23 Oak Leaf Clusters.[4] Harris left the military after the war and in 1976 he moved to Oregon where he lived out the rest of his life.[4]
In 1995, a book was written about Harris's life titled Bill A Pilot's Story by Brooklyn Harris.[5]
Death and legacyEdit
Harris died on May 23, 2012, in Klamath Falls, Oregon. He was 95.[2] In 2015, Harris was inducted into the Hall of Honor at the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum.[4] The Klamath Falls Chapter of the Air Force Association was named the Bill Harris Chapter in his honor.[4]
bill, harris, aviator, bill, harris, june, 1916, 2012, united, states, army, force, fighter, credited, with, shooting, down, aircraft, during, world, william, bill, harrisborn, 1916, june, 1916strathmore, californiadiedmay, 2012, 2012, aged, klamath, falls, or. Bill Harris June 15 1916 May 23 2012 was a United States Army Air Force fighter ace who was credited with shooting down 16 aircraft during World War II 1 2 3 William Bill HarrisBorn 1916 06 15 June 15 1916Strathmore CaliforniaDiedMay 23 2012 2012 05 23 aged 95 Klamath Falls OregonAllegianceUnited StatesService wbr branchUnited States Army Air ForcesYears of service1936 1948RankLieutenant ColonelUnit339th Fighter SquadronCommands held18th Fighter Group August 1 1945Battles warsWorld War II South West Pacific TheatreAwardsDistinguished Flying Cross with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters the Bronze Star Medal and the Air Medal with 23 Oak Leaf Clusters 4 MemorialsIn 2015 Harris was inducted into the Hall of Honor at the Evergreen Aviation amp Space Museum 4 The Klamath Falls Chapter of the Air Force Association was named the Bill Harris Chapter in his honor 4 Not to be confused with Billie D Harris Contents 1 Life 2 Death and legacy 3 See also 4 ReferencesLife EditWilliam Bill Harris was born on June 15 1916 in Strathmore California to Albert Asbury Harris and Harriet Barclay Harris 2 He enlisted in the United States Navy in 1936 and served aboard the USS Houston CA 30 Due to his height Harris was selected to fly in the back seat of a Curtiss SOC Seagullas a rear gunner and radio operator In 1940 he was honorably discharged from the Navy 2 Harris went on to run Harris Bros Lumber Co with his brother Mal and former shipmate Bron Barrett in Springville California Upon the United States entering World War II Harris and Barrett enlisted as pilots in the United States Army Air Corps 2 Harris graduated from pilot training in California in October 1942 and went on to participate in the Battle of Guadalcanal where he piloted a Lockheed P 38 Lightning in the 339th Fighter Squadron 4 He soon racked up 16 confirmed kills At the war s end Harris was the rank of Lieutenant colonel and commander of the 18th Fighter Group 2 He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters the Bronze Star Medal and the Air Medal with 23 Oak Leaf Clusters 4 Harris left the military after the war and in 1976 he moved to Oregon where he lived out the rest of his life 4 In 1995 a book was written about Harris s life titled Bill A Pilot s Story by Brooklyn Harris 5 Death and legacy EditHarris died on May 23 2012 in Klamath Falls Oregon He was 95 2 In 2015 Harris was inducted into the Hall of Honor at the Evergreen Aviation amp Space Museum 4 The Klamath Falls Chapter of the Air Force Association was named the Bill Harris Chapter in his honor 4 See also EditP 38 Lightning GuadalcanalReferences Edit Brooklyn Harris 1995 Bill A Pilot s Story B Harris a b c d e f Bill Harris 1916 2012 Porterville Recorder 2012 05 28 Flying cowboy Herald and News 2005 11 11 Retrieved 2018 06 20 a b c d e 2015 Hall of Honor Inductee Lt Col Bill Harris www evergreenmuseum org Retrieved 2019 06 04 Harris Brooklyn 1995 Bill a pilot s story Macdoel CA B Harris OCLC 34832602 nbsp nbsp This biographical article related to World War II United States Army personnel is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bill Harris aviator amp oldid 1156967784, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
