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Home >> >> The 464th in WWII >> The Last Sortie >> Bill "Billy" W. Davis

The Last Sortie

[Photo] Billy W. Davis (779)

Bill "Billy" W. Davis, 779

17 December 2007

[Photo] Billy W. Davis (779)

   Bill W. Davis died Dec. 17, 2007 following surgery for lung cancer. Bill was born in Joplin, Missouri on Sept. 7, 1920 to Stella and Robert H. Davis.
   He graduated from Tulsa Central High School in 1938. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1942, was commissioned as a 1st Lieutenant, and flew B-24 bombers in Italy with the 464th Bombardment Group of the 15th Army Air Force. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, the Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, the American Theater Ribbon, the EAME Ribbon with 7 battle stars, a Distinguished Unit Citation and the Victory Medal.
   He was honorably discharged and returned to Tulsa, Okla. where he married Frances Leone Bassham in 1945. Frances preceded him in death in 2005 after nearly 60 years of devoted marriage. Following the war, Bill attended, and graduated from, the University of Tulsa where he did the original sign-on for the university’s new radio station KWGS. He retired from Metal Goods Corp. in 1990 after a long career in sales.
   Bill was a volunteer tutor with Project Finish for many years and received immense pleasure from working with all of his students. He was also a member of the Board of Directors of the Brown & Gold club at Johnson County Community College in Overland Park. He was a believer in life-long education and was honored to participate in the mission of B&G.
   Bill is survived by his daughter Carla Davis-McCoy, his son Bill R. Davis, his granddaughter Michelle Jones (Jeff) and his great-grandchildren Riley and Bridget.
   A memorial service was held Friday, Dec. 21, at Christ Church Anglican in Overland Park, Kansas. Inurnment with military honors was at Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery. Memorial contributions in lieu of flowers were made to Global Mobilization Ministries, the Uganda/Sudan Medical Mission c/o Christ Church Anglican in Overland Park, the American Heart Association, and other charities of choice.
   We still miss him every day.
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