Sponsored by:

Navy Federal Credit Union
William
Mclay
Railing
DNB (1942)
August 13, 1916

–

August 16, 1942

Born:

Billings

, 

Montana

Home:

Billings

, 

Montana

Buried: 

Billings

, 

Montana

Cemetery:

Mountview Cemetery

In December 1941, William Railing was shot down in the Philippines and spent six weeks making his way through the jungle to return to his unit. He took part in the flight that evacuated General MacArthur from the Philippines to Australia earning him the Distinguished Flying Cross. He was later shot down and spent thirteen hours in an inflatable raft waiting for rescue, and was killed in action in August 1942, in a flight to test a new flare dropping mechanism. The equipment malfunctioned and a flare exploded inside the plane, causing it to crash into the sea north of Cairns Queensland, killing all aboard.

Awards Received

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Army Air Forces

    Rank:

    First Lieutenant (Air Corps)

    Batallion:

    30th Bombardment Squadron

    Regiment:

    19th Bombardment Group (H)

    Division:

    5th Air Force

    Action Date:

    World War II
    Headquarters, 5th Air Force, General Orders No. 52 (December 18, 1942)

    (Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting a Second Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Third Award of the Silver Star (Posthumously) to First Lieutenant (Air Corps) William Mclay Railing (ASN: 0-398588), United States Army Air Forces, for gallantry in action against the enemy while serving as a member of the Air Crew of a B-17 Flying Fortress Bomber in the 30th Bombardment Squadron, 19th Bombardment Group (Heavy), FIFTH Air Force, in aerial operations in the Southwest Pacific Theater of Operations, in 1942. The gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty demonstrated by First Lieutenant Railing, 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.

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Army Air Forces

    Rank:

    First Lieutenant (Air Corps)

    Batallion:

    30th Bombardment Squadron

    Regiment:

    19th Bombardment Group (H)

    Division:

    5th Air Force

    Action Date:

    World War II
    Headquarters, 5th Air Force, General Orders No. 4 (September 6, 1942)a

    (Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star (Posthumously) to First Lieutenant (Air Corps) William Mclay Railing (ASN: 0-398588), United States Army Air Forces, for gallantry in action against the enemy while serving as a member of the Air Crew of a B-17 Flying Fortress Bomber in the 30th Bombardment Squadron, 19th Bombardment Group (Heavy), FIFTH Air Force, in aerial operations in the Southwest Pacific Theater of Operations, in 1942. The gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty demonstrated by First Lieutenant Railing, 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.

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Army Air Forces

    Rank:

    First Lieutenant (Air Corps)

    Batallion:

    30th Bombardment Squadron

    Regiment:

    19th Bombardment Group (H)

    Division:

    Far East Air Force

    Action Date:

    World War II
    Headquarters, Allied Air Forces in the Southwest Pacific Area, General Orders No. 12 (May 25, 1942)

    (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 First Lieutenant (Air Corps) William M. Railing (ASN: 0-398588), United States Army Air Forces, for gallantry in action against the enemy while serving as a member of the Air Crew of a B-17 Flying Fortress Bomber in the 30th Bombardment Squadron, 19th Bombardment Group (Heavy), Far East Air Force, in aerial operations in the Southwest Pacific Theater of Operations, in 1942. The gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty demonstrated by First Lieutenant Railing, 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.