Graduation bombadier class of 43-7

Activity during WWII

Enlisted in Army service on July 9, 1940 after graduating from high school in 1939. Assigned to the field artillery and trained and served as a radio operator at Fort Sill at Lawton, Oklahoma for 16 months and was promoted to Corporal. Reassigned as a radio operator to Camp Bowie at Brownwood, Texas where he served for 11 months and was promoted to Sergeant. Applied and was selected for flying training and was transferred to the Army Air Forces on October 1, 1942. Entered the aviation cadet aircrew training program and was trained as a bombardier from October 1, 1942 to May 13, 1943. Attended preflight training at Ellington Field at Houston, Texas and completed the course in February 1943. Completed advanced flying school at Big Spring Army Airfield, Texas in May 1943 including training on the Norden bombsight. Upon completion of bombardier school with class 43-7, on May 13, 1943, awarded Silver Bombardier Wings and commissioned a Second Lieutenant. Attended flexible gunnery school at Wendover Army Airfield, in proximity to the Great Salt Lake Desert in Utah from May 23 to June 20, 1943 and was awarded aerial gunner qualification. Earmarked for heavy bombardment transition flying training on B-17 Flying Fortress bomber aircraft. Assigned to Pyote Army Air Base, Texas, known as the Rattlesnake bomber base, from July 1, 1943 to August 14, 1943 to fly in the type aircraft to be flown overseas. Training included exercises in high altitude formation flying, long-range navigation, target identification and simulated combat missions. Deployed overseas via Puerto Rico, British Guiana, Brazil and North Africa to the European-African-Middle Eastern theater on July 25, 1943. Assigned to the 353rd Bombardment Squadron, 301st Bombardment Group, 12th Air Force based at Oudna, Tunisia in the Mediterranean Theater of operation on August 15, 1943. Participated in the Air Combat-Balkans, Sicily, Naples-Foggia, Anzio and Rome-Arno campaigns. Entered combat on his first mission about August 27, 1943 and logged over 150 combat flying hours during his tour of duty. His first mission was quite exciting when his bomber ran into some flak when it first came over enemy land and three bursts went off right under his plane. The aircraft sustained holes in the right wing and stabilizer. Shortly thereafter, his formation was attacked by about a dozen enemy fighters and his plane was attacked by 2 fighters. The enemy was driven off by fires from his plane and friendly pursuit planes that arrived. When the time came for him to locate, identify his target and direct the plane while on the bomb run, he delivered his payload very well, considering his excited state. His unit was engaged in bombing docks, shipping facilities, airfields, railroad yards and enemy shipping in Sicily, Sardinia, Corsica and adjacent waters. Flew numerous missions to Italy during the period August through October, 1943. His unit was assigned to the 15th Air Force in November, 1943 and moved to Cerignola, Italy about December 7, 1943. Engaged primarily in attacks against strategic targets such as oil facilities, communications centers and industrial sites in Italy, Germany and the Balkans. While serving, for the first time as the lead bombardier for his squadron, his B-17G aircraft was shot down during his 28th combat mission over Villaorba, Italy on January 30, 1944. He was taken as a Prisoner of War (POW) by Axis forces and spent the remaining 15 months of the war in a POW camp designated Stalag Luft 1 in Barth, Germany. Promoted to First Lieutenant on February 26, 1944 while a prisoner. Liberated by Russian Red Army Force on May 1, 1945,. Repatriated and returned to the states on June 20, 1945.
Awarded the Air Medal with 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters, Prisoner of War Medal, Good Conduct Medal, American Defense Medal, American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with 1 Silver Service Star, and WWII Victory Medal. Also authorized the Presidential (Distinguished) Unit Citation for extraordinary heroism in action by his unit. Promoted to Captain on December 21, 1945. Honorably discharged at San Antonio, Texas on January 19, 1946 and issued the Honorable Service Lapel Button.

The aircraft Donald was assigned to when his ship went down was serial number 42-31424. The Missing Air Crew Report (MACR) is #2062

Donald Lester Tracy passed peacefully on February 2, 2007 at St Simeons Episcopal Home in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Donald was born May 31, 1921 to Lester Roy Tracy and Fannie Myrtle (Cook) Tracy in Conway, Missouri, the youngest of three sons. When Donald was only 4, Fannie died and Donald's grandmother Nora Mae (Moffitt) (Tracy) Minnick raised him until her death in 1931. At that time Donald was sent to live with his father and stepmother in Tulsa. Upon graduating from Central High School in 1939, Donald enlisted in the United States Army.

When WWII began, Donald served as bombardier for B17 Flying Fortresses in the European-North African-Middle Eastern Theaters with the 353rd Bomb Squadron, 301st Bomb Group. On Don's 28th mission, his ship was finally shot down on January 30, 1944 over Villaorba, Italy. Donald was captured by Axis troops and spent the remaining 15 months of the war as a POW in Stalag Luft 1 at Barth, Germany. Upon liberation by Russian Allied forces in May of 1945, Donald made his way home where he was decommissioned with the rank of Captain.

After the war, Donald married the love of his life, Bernadine Whitehorn in Claremore, Oklahoma on July 8, 1945. Upon returning to Tulsa, he became an apprentice glazier, learning the glass business under the guidance of Jack Whitacre. In 1963, Donald started his own business, Don Tracy Glass Company, which he successfully ran until his retirement in 1986. Don was an avid reader, gardener and loved working outdoors. He was very active in the Baptist church as a Deacon and leader of the Royal Ambassadors boys group.

Preceded in death by his parents; his brothers Hubert Garald Tracy and Melvin Vance Tracy; and wife Bernadine. Survivors are daughter, Donna Lynn (Tracy) Drury and husband Charles F. Drury; son Douglas Blair Tracy; granddaughter Diana Lee Coverdell and husband Andy; grandson Donald Ray Drury and wife Chelsea; and great-granddaughter Sara Dawn Coverdell.