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As a member of the Army Air Forces 38th Reconnaissance Squadron, Earl Williams was en route from California to the Philippines on December 7, 1941.

Scheduled to refuel their B-17’s at Pearl Harbor, Williams’ group ran directly into the Japanese attack. Unarmed, and under fire, his aircraft mad a forced landing at Hickam Army Air Field. Strafed by Japanese fighters, the image of his destroyed aircraft became an iconic representation of the Pearl Harbor attack.

Williams’ war continued. With the 435th Squadron he completed 55 combat missions in the Pacific before returning to the United States where his engineering skills led to a successful career in the United States Air Force.

B-17, 435th Bomb Squadron, 19th Bomb Group (H), Allied Air Forces, Australia.

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5th Air Force
As a member of the Army Air Forces 38th Reconnaissance Squadron, Earl Williams was en route from California to the Philippines on December 7, 1941.<br /> <br /> Scheduled to refuel their B-17’s at Pearl Harbor, Williams’ group ran directly into the Japanese attack. Unarmed, and under fire, his aircraft mad a forced landing at Hickam Army Air Field. Strafed by Japanese fighters, the image of his destroyed aircraft became an iconic representation of the Pearl Harbor attack.<br /> <br /> Williams’ war continued. With the 435th Squadron he completed 55 combat missions in the Pacific before returning to the United States where his engineering skills led to a successful career in the United States Air Force.<br /> <br /> B-17, 435th Bomb Squadron, 19th Bomb Group (H), Allied Air Forces, Australia.