Lights of Peace Flag December 2025 to Honor SSGT William D. Watling, Sr. WWII Army Air Corp Veteran

During the month of December, the 75th Lights for Peace flag to fly at the Fort Taber – Fort Rodman Military Museum honors the memory of SSGT William David Watling, Sr., of Rochester, a WWII Army Air Corp veteran who served in the 448 Bombardment Group of the 2nd Air Division.

Watling was born in New Bedford on Oct. 17, 1917, son of the late William and Katherine (Doyle) Watling. He attended New Bedford High School and later moved to Rochester, MA, marrying his wife Louise (Harley) Watling.

On July 15, 1943, at the age of 25, Watling was inducted to the United States Army Air Corp., which was an aerial warfare component of the Army. He began his active-duty service on August 5, 1943.

He was assigned to the 207th AAF Base Unit, a “tow target unit” whose “mission was to provide aerial targets for anti-aircraft and aerial gunnery training, a critical support function for combat operations.” The training specialized in live-fire practice, preparing combat units and anti-aircraft personnel with realistic training before deployment.

SSGT Watling served as an airplane armorer-gunner in the 448 Bombardment Group of the 2nd Air Division, aboard the B-24 Liberator. The 448th Bombardment Group flew strategic bombing raids focused on German industrial and military infrastructure including factories and oil refineries.

According to his son, William D. Watling, Jr., his dad was a “top-turret gunner on the B-24” and “called out flak to the pilot.” He would have been responsible for defending the aircraft from attacks from above as well as serving in a combat role as the flight engineer. According to nationalmuseum.af.mil, “This dual role involved operating the turret’s guns to protect the bomber while also monitoring critical systems like engines and fuel in flight.”

The unit was stationed at Seething in Norfolk, England. From Dec. 1943 to July 1945, the 448 Bombardment Group flew 262 combat missions, losing a total of 101 aircraft. During Watling’s service from December 18, 1944, to June 12, 1945, he conducted 22 missions while participating in campaigns in Rhineland, Ardennes and Central Europe.

According to the Down Under Aviation News, “Many times ground crews prepared the “flying coffin” as the B-24 Liberator had become called in some quarters, for daily missions by spending hours in cold and snowy climate to prepare the bombers for their next

missions. Aircrew were awoken at early hours, for briefings, and then taken when all was ready to take to the air, only to have missions scrubbed due to weather causing problems over Europe or the targets. It became common for the personnel of the unit that fighting the weather was just as bad experience as taking the fight to the enemy. Many examples of just trying to land back at home base proved that the weather was as challenging as the mission.

These harrowing air combats saw the bombers hit hard with the B-24 suffering tremendous damage. In some cases, despite what should have been certain death for some aircrew, the pilots struggled against many odds and managed to keep their badly damaged aircraft airborne to make it back to friendly lines or to bases in the UK.”

A war memorial for the 448th Bombardment Group was established at the Seething Control Tower Museum at the former Seething Airfield in Norfolk, England. It reads, “In memory of the men of the 448th Bomb Group, 8th United States Air Force, who served at the Seething Airfield, December 1943 to April 1945. Fighting for Freedom. 350 men killed in action.”

SSGT William Watling, Sr., was honorably discharged on November 15, 1945, earning the following decorations: The Good Conduct Medal, The American Theatre Campaign Ribbon, the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Campaign ribbon with 3 battle stars, and the Air Medal with 2 oak leaf clusters.

Watling was employed by Morse Twist Drill as a thread grinder, before and after the war, until his retirement. He was also very active in his community, taking on many roles throughout the years.

Mr. Watling was president and a founding member of the Alewives Anonymous, Inc, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the conservation of alewife and blueback herring in the rivers of Rochester, Marion, and Mattapoisett. He also served as the Herring Inspector for 40 years, as well as Cemetery Commissioner and Park Commissioner for many years. Watling was also a member of the Rochester Fire Dept., the Men’s Brotherhood, the Rochester Grange No. 257, the Lions Club, the Veterans of Foreign Wars 2425 in Marion and Murphy Club in New Bedford.

He was also very active in the Rochester Town Baseball League and served as a committee member for the Rochester Memorial Day Boat Race. Watling was also a member of the Rochester Congregational Church and worked there as a custodian for many years.

William D. Watling, Sr. passed away on October 2, 1993, at the age of 75. He is survived by his son, William D. Watling, Jr. and his wife Christine, of Rochester; his grandson, William D. Watling III and his wife Alyssa, of Rochester; and two great-grandchildren. He was the husband of the late Louise (Hartley) Watling.