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Harold
D.
Gillett
POW (WWII)

Home:

Binghamton

, 

New York

Harold Gillett was a member of the air crew of the B-29 named “Postville Express,” the first B-29 to drop bombs on Japan. He was one of five members of the crew to receive the Silver Star. His bomber was shot down on a bombing mission from India to Singapore on January 11 – 12, 1945, and he was captured and held as a prisoner of war.

Awards Received

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Army Air Forces

    Rank:

    Master Sergeant

    Batallion:

    793d Bombardment Squadron

    Regiment:

    468th Bombardment Group (VH)

    Division:

    20th Air Force

    Action Date:

    January 11, 1945
    Headquarters, Army Air Forces, India-Burma Sector, General Orders No. 151 (May 4, 1946)

    (Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Master Sergeant Harold D. Gillett (ASN: 32476697), United States Army Air Forces, for gallantry in action against the enemy while serving as Radio Operator of a B-29 Superfortress Bomber of the 793d Bombardment Squadron, 468th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy), TWENTIETH Air Force, in aerial operations in the Pacific and China-Burma-India Theaters of Operations Theater of Operations, in 1944 and 1945. The gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty demonstrated by Master Sergeant Gillett, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army Air Forces.

  • Prisoner of War Medal

    Service:

    United States Army Air Forces

    Rank:

    Technical Sergeant

    Division:

    Prisoner of War (Japan)

    Action Date:

    January 11, 1945 – September 1945
    NARA Database: Records of World War II Prisoners of War, created, 1942 – 38688

    Technical Sergeant Harold Gillett (ASN: 32476697), United States Army Air Forces, was captured by Japanese forces after his aircraft was shot down on or about January 11, 1945 and was held as a Prisoner of War until his release from captivity after the end of hostilities in September 1945.