Know Your Veterans - Bill Woehr, D-Day Pilot

Doylestown VFW 175 member, Bill Woehr, was a pilot during the D-Day invasion

“My childhood ambition was to become a teacher and a pilot.” 

Bill Woehr of Warrington, a World War II Veteran, attained both of his childhood goals.

Bill grew up in Philadelphia where he attended Northeast High School. At age 16, Bill was not only the youngest in the graduating class of 1937, but he was also in the top 10 percent academically.  It was at Northeast High School where Bill learned how to play and developed a passion for the French horn; he played for the school band and in the orchestra.  Bill said that his “first job was delivering the Bulletin,” in fact he delivered 150 papers a day, and earned $6.00 a week.  Bill also stocked shelves for the local Unity and Frankford Store. 

Inspired to serve his country, Bill joined the National Guard in 1938. After basic training at Fort Dix, NJ, he was assigned to the 157th Field Artillery Band until 1942 – but his real goal was not yet fulfilled.  “Although my wildest dream was to play French Horn with my brother, Chris, in the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, my realistic goal was to become a pilot.” Bill was one of five sons of German immigrant parents who had served in World War II.  Every one of the five was involved in combat and all returned home safely. 

Leaving the Army band for Aviation Cadet Training in Texas and Oklahoma, he learned to fly single and twin engine aircraft.  After training, his wife Polly pinned “Wings” on his uniform.  During a training exercise in Austin, Texas, Bill’s instructor crashed a plane at the end of the runway and broke his leg, leaving him unable to fly for six weeks.  The encouraging piece of this story is that Polly was able to join him while he recovered.

Polly and Bill were expecting their first child in March of 1944.  Bill had hitch-hiked to their Philadelphia home to be with her, but Polly did not give birth before Bill had to return to his unit. Just several days later, on March 8th, his son Ronnie was born.  Bill could only hear his cry as the nurse brought him to the phone.  He saw his son for the first time eighteen months later.

Bill became a part of the 9th Air Force, Army Air Corps -- The 9th transferred to England in October, 1943 and participated in Normandy invasion and the rest of the European continent until the VE-Day. Bill flew missions as lead pilot during the Normandy invasion. 

He also flew in England, Germany, France and Italy. “While flying a C-47 paratrooper transport during the Normandy invasion on D-Day, I was hit by fire from a German aircraft.  My friends flying beside me were shot down with anti-aircraft fire,” Bill recalled.  His friend, John Prince and his co-pilot Rolfe hid behind enemy lines for two weeks before returning to England.  Of the 60 plus members of his unit, the 303rd Air Squadron, only four are still surviving and they still get together each year.

Bill also flew medical transport missions from Holland to England, at times with heavy cloud cover and no radar; he often had to land in open fields.

Even though he enjoyed his military service, Bill was ready to begin a new chapter in his life. Inspired by encouragement from his sixth grade elementary school teacher, Bill decided to become a teacher after returning from the war. When he returned home in 1945, he taught in the Philadelphia School District. He received a BS in Education from Temple in 1946, and went on to earn a Masters of Education degree in 1949. He also went on to become the Principal of various Philadelphia schools and taught post-high school classes to WWII, Korean, and Vietnam veterans.

Bill and Polly (Hilda) celebrated their 50th anniversary in August of 1992 and were presented with the gift of a trip to Germany by their children – Robert, Joan, William (Ron), who passed in 2004 and Susan. Bill also has nine grandchildren and four great- grandchildren. 

Bill and Polly were married for over 62 years before she passed away in his arms on April 5, 2005.  She had come out of her coma long enough to say “The Lord is taking me away to His home.”

Until his stroke last year, Bill was very active in the community.  He was a volunteer for the “Seniors Helping Seniors” program and also delivered “Meals on Wheels” two to three times a week.  He is a member of The National Teachers Association, the Masonic Lodge, the American Legion and VFW Post 175, and has spoken at local elementary schools.  He also enjoys stamp and coin collecting and painting.  “I would like my legacy to say that I cared for others and that we need to be involved in volunteer service and encouraging and inspiring others to do so.” 

In August of 2007, Bill presented his children with a book of his “Life and Memories.”  In this book, he describes his life growing up in Philadelphia during the depression years, his parents and siblings, and how he met Polly.  He also has a chronology of the costs of food, gasoline, tuition and salaries during his lifetime.  Finally, he includes words of wisdom and inspirational thoughts. 

It is this type of writing that all Veterans, young and old, should consider.  Their stories need to be told and held by their families. Doylestown VFW Post 175 encourages members to chronicle their life and military experiences.  I would hope that more writings, such as Bill’s, will be considered by the many Veterans in our area.  For more information on how to tell your story, please visit http://www.loc.gov/vets/.  

Bill, at 91, returned to VFW meetings in November.  It had been known that he was recovering from his stroke and was in therapy but never had we expected to see him walk through the door as soon as he did.  Bill’s tenacity and love of life truly depicts him as a member of “The Greatest Generation”.