3rd ERS

26th PRS  (Lightning Bugs)


Bill Wynne is retired after 50 years of professional photography. After his experience in the 26th Photo Recon Squadron, he spent 7 years with the National Advisory Committee For Aeronautics (now NASA) flying flight icing research missions and working on other research programs, testing and developing equipment, still used in modern aircraft. Bill worked as a photo journalist and photographer/writer with the Cleveland PLAIN DEALER for 31 years and returned to NASA for four more years before retiring to write his memoir, Yorkie Doodle Dandy

Bill Wynne

Bill's A-2 Jacket

 

William "Bill" A. Wynne is an author, decorated World War II veteran, dog trainer, photographer, award winning photojournalist, and community advocate. He also owned and trained one of the most famous dogs in history  - Smoky - Yorkie Doodle Dandy

WW II (January 12, 1943 - November 27, 1945)

Served 24 months in the Southwest Pacific and Far East with the 26th Photo Recon Squadron of the 6th Photo Recon Group as a lab technician and as a camera installer on F-5/P-38 Lightning  reconnaissance planes at New Guinea, Biak Island, Luzon, Okinawa and Korea.                                                                                                        

As an aerial photographer, he flew 13 combat missions with the 3rd Emergency Rescue Squadron from Biak Island to Ceram, Halmahera, Celebes, Borneo, and Mindanao between September and December of 1944.

He was awarded two U.S. Presidential Unit Citations and eight Battle Stars.

This aircraft has been adorned with the markings of an F-5 of the 26th PRS of the 6th Photo Recon Group. 

 Courtesy of Christen Wright - Director & Curator

The Yanks Air Museum

F-5 of the 26th PRS via William A. Wynne

May 31, 2016 - Bill Wynne & Smoky at All Veterans Memorial