PAUL E. WILLIAMS

WILLIAMS PAUL E. WILLIAMS (Age 93) Of Silver Spring, Maryland passed away in his sleep January 26, 2015 at Crofton Care and Rehabilitation Center. A public viewing will be at 10 a.m., February 1, 2015 at Collins Funeral Home, 500 University Blvd. West, Silver Spring, MD 20901. Burial with Full Military Honors will be held at a later date to be determined at Arlington National Cemetery. Paul Williams was born in Akron, Ohio on December 24, 1921 to Clarence and Flonnie Edna Williams. He married Linda Ciarrochi on June 19, 1946 and was married 64 years before he lost her in December 2009 to cancer. He made a commitment in 1940 at Akron University to become an Aviation Cadet. In February 1942 he made 2nd Lieutenant and earned his pilot wings in December 1942. December through January 1943 he was trained on B17's n Sebring Florida and was assigned to the 388th Bomb Group. From February to June 1943, he had combat crew training as Aircraft Commander in Boise, Idaho. One of his instructors was the actor Jimmy Stewart. In June of that year he was able to pick up his own B17 (called Little Lass) in Sioux City, Iowa and flew to join the 8th Air Force in Knettishall, England. From June to October 1943 his squadron flew 18 missions over occupied Europe. The Little Lass was equipped with Tokyo Tanks and was assigned the deep penetrations targets, and the squadron sustained heavy losses. On his 18th mission he was shot down and ditched in the North Sea. He and his crew became prisoners when picked up by a German Patrol boat. He was sent to Stalag Luft 3. The same camp made famous by the movie "The Great Escape" he help disburse the dirt from the tunnels. When 50 prisoners escaped from the British compound and were massacred on recapture only a few made it to freedom. In January 1945 the compound was evacuated and 10,000 prisoners marched in the bitter cold to board cattle card to take them to Moosburg in Bavaria. On April 29, 1945, elements of Patton's army liberated the camp, the shooting stopped and the war over. The Russians then set up a blockade of Berlin. Paul flew 108 missions from 1948 through 1949; flying C-54's to help get supplies to those in need in Berlin. In 1950, during the Korean War, he flew 367 combat hours as a transport pilot supporting the U.N. Forces. During these missions he relocated 3000 orphans to Che Je Do Island before Chinese force could overrun the orphanage. He was especially proud of this accomplishment. He served a tour in a combat zone in Vietnam in 1968 and also server a year as director of logistics in the 7th Air force headquarter in Saigon. The Tet Offensive took place during his tour. Paul served from 1966 to 1967 at the Joint Chief of Staff at the Pentagon. He retired from System Command at Andrews Air Force Base on February 20, 1970. During his career he was awarded several medals and Commendations for his service to his country; Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, National Defense Service Medal with 1 Battle Star, The Purple heart, Prisoner of War Medal, Earned the Distinguished Unit Citation award to the 388th bomb group, and the Berlin Airlift Decoration and many more. During non combat tours he kept his family with him on assignments which took them to Wiesbaden Germany, and Tainan Taiwan. He is survived by his five children, Paulette Fields, Kathy Lukasewicz, Janet Delvy, James Williams and Gail Williams; seven grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and one great-great-granddaughter. He will be dearly missed by all.He will be dearly missed by all.