Miles R. League.
Pilot · 330th Squadron · Of Greenville, SC.
The Man Behind the Name
From the 2nd Air Division Association Yearbook
Joined 409th Bomb Sqdn., 93rd Bomb Group at Hardwick in early May 1943 as first replacement crew. Participated in missions from England and North Africa, including the low-level mission to Ploesti oil refineries and the first bombing mission of Wiener Neustadt, Austria.
On his 13th mission (Gdynia, Poland), severe flak knocked his crew out of formation; made a solo bomb run on two engines then made an emergency landing in Sweden. Interned three months; exchanged for German pilots.
Rejoined 409th Sqdn. and resumed combat missions. On his 23rd mission (Feb. 25, 1944), shot down and bailed out near Saarbrücken; captured and held as POW in Stalag Luft I, Barth, Germany, until liberated by the Russian army on May 5, 1945.
Service record.
Missions flown.
The missions below are those we have been able to document for this airman, drawn from flight logs, mission records, and archival sources. It is not necessarily a complete account of every mission flown; gaps may reflect missing documentation, transferred assignments, or records lost to time.
Before and after.
Born June 22, 1921 in Greenville, SC. Obtained private pilot's certificate at Erskine College (May 1941); advanced civilian pilot training at Furman University (June-September 1941). Joined USAAC as aviation cadet Jan. 16, 1942; commissioned second lieutenant and awarded pilot wings Nov. 25, 1942. B-24 training at Davis Monthan AAF, AZ; Alamogordo and Clovis, NM; Topeka, KS.
Returned to U.S. early June 1945; married Ora Gibson on June 30, 1945. Placed on inactive reserve January 1946. Recalled to active duty February 1948; received regular Air Force commission October 1949. Career command pilot serving at Ellsworth AFB, Carswell AFB, Johnson Air Base (Japan), Davis Monthan AFB, Mactan AB (Philippines), Saigon (Vietnam), Langley AFB, Wheeler AB (HI). Retired February 1974 as colonel. Received Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with five Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart, Bronze Star, ETO with eight Battle Stars.