William Elwood “Woody” Rice was 19 years old when he enlisted in the Army in 1942. “I had always been interested in flying. I grew up watching National Guard airplanes and Navy dirigibles flying over Swarthmore, PA where I grew up”.
In December ’44 Woody received his orders to go overseas.
Woody flew in 34 combat missions including the final and longest escort mission from Ramitelli, Italy to Berlin Germany on March 24, 1945. The purpose of the mission was to provide close escort from the B-17 bombers attacking the Daimler/Benz tank Assembly Plant in Berlin.
Learn more about 1st Lt William Rice in Tuskegee Airmen Profiles!