Author Talk | William D. Allen: Beloved Son, Brother, Uncle, 2nd Lt., American Navigator

The National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force's monthly Author Talk series is proud to present Jean Allen, who will be discussing her book on her uncle, William Davis Allen | Beloved Son, Brother, Uncle, 2nd Lt., American Navigator. This program will take place on October 18th at 11:00 am at the museum.

The program is free to the public, but please register at https://forms.gle/HQXTsF9RNdqmi2m6A

About the Book
In April 1944, fresh out of the Army Air Forces Navigation School, newly commissioned officer, 2nd LT William D. Allen, arrived in the European Theater of Operations, Thurleigh, England. He was assigned to the 306th Bombardment Group (Heavy), 423rd Bomb Squadron, Eighth Air Force, and suddenly thrust into navigating combat missions over Germany and France. Following the Normandy invasion, U.S. and Allied combat missions continued to help quell the advance of German soldiers and military equipment to France's northern coast.

The 306th's mission on 15 June 1944 was fraught with more peril than the airmen could have imagined. Once the 54 Flying Fortress B-17s arrived over France, and dropped bombs on railroad bridges being used by Germans, a barrage of 88 mm anti-aircraft artillery filled the skies, exploding into and around the B-17s, striking more than half the formation. William's plane was hit badly and the pilot ordered his crew of eight airmen to "BAIL OUT!" The stunned airmen were suddenly parachuting into smokey, noisy, dangerous skies. They watched the rest of the formation continue on the mission as their B-17 hurtled to the ground. They must have been filled with a foreboding sense of dread knowing enemy forces surely had seen their parachutes against the morning sky. Little did they realize, French villagers below would risk their lives trying to help them. What transpired over the next 11 hours was nothing short of shocking and terrifying, starting with one French villager's deadly betrayal--her traitorous collaboration with Nazis...

The men and women who sacrificed and served during World War II saved the world from fascism.