Col. William A. Williams

317th Troop Carrier Group WWII

Operations Officer

Col. William A. Williams had died at age 94 on October 30th in Waimea, Hawaii, Hawaii. He was a founding member of the 317th Troop Carrier Group, serving in exercises at Fort Benning GA with the army paratroopers. As operations officer he was involved in the planning and execution of the overwater ferry flight to Australia and then on to Port Moresby. He flew supplies into Wau and wounded out in support of the Australian defense of that outpost. In an early model B-17 he flew coast watcher resupply missions in the Solomons. He participated in the paratrooper airdrop on Lae. January 1st he left with orders to the Army Staff College at Fort Leavenworth ending his connection with the 317th. He was buried at sea off Hilo Hawaii.

Col. William A. Williams ,while serving as a Major, he led the parachute drop on Nadzab flying

C-47 tail no. 42-23582 named : " The Honeymoon Express". Col. Paul Prentiss 54th TCW CO was his co-pilot and John Glaros his Radio Operator on that mission.