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William Vermillion

Image of a gray-haired William Vermillion wearing glasses, a navy blue suit with burgundy tie, flower in the lapel  and a burgundy veteran's cap

WWII Veteran William F. Vermillion, 2007

William F. Vermillion, 2007

  • Branch of Service: United States Army Air Corps
  • Highest Rank: Tech Sergeant
  • Military Service: June 1942 - September 1945

Listen to the following sections by scrolling forward to the timecode.

0:09 - Part of the 9th Air Force 455th Squadron in England
0:26 - Drafted into service
2:06 - Siblings in the service
2:49 - Trip after training
5:00 - Flew the B26 marauder experience
8:04 - February 5th coincidence 42 years later
9:45 - Became a prisoner of war
11:04 - Moment of being captured
12:51 - Reunion with pilot
15:34 - Being captured and traveling while being a prisoner
18:43 - Parents communication during POW
20:55 - Coming home
22:21 - Being shot down - tail gunner story
25:13 - Learned from experience
William F. Vermillion Obituary 

This story was recorded at an SDPB event in Sioux Falls, SD. 

Images Provided by William F. Vermillion
image of crew in front of WWII bomber called the Swamp Chicken

Crew of WWII bomber called the Swamp Chicken - (Front row left to right): Myres, Mims, Jackson (Second row left to right): Brush, Vermillion and Miyo; Photo taken on the 50th mission of the bomber

Former Elk Point Youth Winner of D.F.C., Air Medal with 3 Clusters (Article Provided by William F. Vermillion) Click to Read

Image of newspaper article

Elk Point Man Reported Lost, Staff Sergeant William Vermillion is Missing in Action (Article Provided by William F. Vermillion) 

Lima Flier Receives Two Medals for Battle Feats (Article Provided by William F. Vermillion) Click to Read

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