Michael H. Prestia
Attended the Connellsville Joint School District
Graduated in: 1940
Branch of service: U.S. Army Air Forces
Information regarding duties/deployment:
Voluntary Enlistment December 2, 1942
Basic Training Miami, Florida
Aviation Cadet Program Texas July – August 1943
Pilot Training School, Uvalde, Texas September – October 1943
Gunnery School Harlingen, Texas November – December 1943
Navigation School Hondo, Texas December 1943- April 1944
Enlisted Honorable Discharge April 21, 1944
Commissioned Officer 0723678 April 22, 1944
Combat Training, U.S. and Great Britain with the B-17 Flying Fortress.
Assigned to the 8th Air Force, 452nd Bomb Group,
Station 142, Deopham Green, England, as an Aerial Navigator.
Completed 35 Combat Missions March 1945.
Advanced Aerial Navigation School April to May 1945.
Also served in Wales, Scotland, Iceland, Greenland, Newfoundland and U.S.
U.S. Air Force Honorable Discharge October 17, 1945
U.S. Air Force Reserve Discharge May 03, 1955
Special Recognition Received: Distinguished Air Medal with Silver Oak Cluster,
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with Silver Star,
WWII Victory Medal, Good Conduct Medal,
Presidential Unit Citation and the Atlantic War Zone Bar.
