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<em>WILLIAM KIENLE HORRIGAN</em> was born in Wilmington, DE, to William James and Anna (Kienle) Horrigan. His father was in the U.S. Engineering Corps. He was from a deeply religious family; two of his brothers were priests and his sisters were nuns. Bill’s survival in the trying times ahead of him could be credited to his dedicated religious training and unfaltering Christian faith. From his early high school years, Bill aimed toward West Point and Aviation training.</p>
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Bill was a popular A Company member, always ready with a helping hand and hearty laugh that gave him a second nickname, “Hoot.” Academics were no mystery. He was in fencing and track. He was a <em>Pointer</em> representative and a 100th Nite Show back stage man.</p>
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Bill realized his second prime ambition when he received his pilot wings at Kelly Field and transferred from the Field Artillery to the Air Corps. During flight training in San Antonio, Bill met the love of his life, the beautiful Eleanor Ahern. Upon receiving his wings, Bill was ordered to the Philippines. Vowing an early reunion with Eleanor, he departed for Nichols Field in March 1939.</p>
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In March 1940, his beloved Eleanor joined him in Manila. They were married on 14 March in the Manila Chapel by Bill’s uncle, Father Alfred F. Kienle, S.J. All dependents were evacuated to the States by mid-1941, including Eleanor and their newborn daughter. Bill transferred to the B-17s of the 19th Bomb Group at Clark Field under MAJ Emmett “Rosie” O’Donnell ’28.</p>
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On 5 Dec 1941, Bill flew a single plane reconnaissance in a B-18. Flying close enough to Formosa for camera shots of five coastal airstrips, he confirmed a substantial buildup of bombers and fighters. This vital information notwithstanding, he was reprimanded for exceeding the limits of his authorized flight.</p>
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Bill’s 14th Squadron, now at Del Monte, Mindanao, was ordered back to Clark for a bomb mission on 9 December. At dusk, Rosie and Bill, leading eight planes, were directed to San Marceleno, a new airstrip in a valley where no B-18 had ever landed. Despite the field’s lack of facilities, all aircraft landed successfully. The first to land were fired on by surprised Filipino soldiers.</p>
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Before dawn, in a pouring rain, Hosie and Bill took off for Clark for orders. They loaded eight 600-pound bombs to attack the Japanese fleet in north Luzon. In the first U.S. bomb attack of the war, plagued by bomb rack trouble and heavy anti-aircraft fire, they made five runs on the target. The B-17 force suffered heavy losses, dwindling to a handful of combat capable aircraft by mid-December. All aircraft capable of flight to Australia left by 20 December as Del Monte came under Japanese air attack. Bill stayed, in charge of the B-17 airmen there.</p>
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After a brief stay in Australia, he went to Bandeng, Java, to serve in operations at HQ, Far East Air Force. As the war deteriorated, personnel went to India and Australia. Bill remained as liaison officer to the Dutch for the small, remaining B-17 detachment, charged with fighting until the planes were no longer fit for combat. They were to evacuate as best they could.</p>
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The last missions were flown on 1 March, as the Japanese made their landings in Java. Unable to reach the evacuation airfield with his four-man detachment, Bill was on his own. Just before the Dutch surrender, Bill flew a battered B-18 aircraft from Bandeng, hoping to fly to Australia. He made a hazardous takeoff, flying on the deck, fighting unfavorable weather, gas leaks, and heavy drag. He made a skillful landing on a Bali beach near Kendal as his fuel gave out. He approached a Dutch official for assistance but was turned over to the Japanese. He started his long POW ordeal on 10 March.</p>
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Confined in five different prison camps on Java, he was later senior officer and POW camp commander of 1500 Dutch, British, Australian and American prisoners near Nagasaki, Japan. His conscientious attention to the welfare of the POWs earned him high praise from his companions and much physical abuse from his captors.</p>
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He was once placed in solitary confinement for more than a week with a total daily ration of two small rice balls. The Japanese said this punishment was for spreading news of the South Pacific and obstructing the Japanese administration, in particular, with regard to obtaining distribution of Red Cross supplies.</p>
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In April 1945, the American prisoners who were officers were sent to Mukden, Manchuria, where they remained until VJ Day. On 20 August, the Russians arrived and Bill’s group was homeward bound in September.</p>
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After months of hospitalization, Bill attended the Air Command and Staff School, graduating with distinction. His superior performance prepared him for assignment as Director of Instruction, Air Tactical School. He attended the first Air War College Class, followed by duty in HQ, USAF Comptrollers office. He then went to Paris as a planner in the U.S. mission to NATO.</p>
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Bill returned to the States as the Commander of Randolph Base. Flying a jet at altitude, he lost pressure and incurred a severe case of the bends. This led to long hospitalization and disability retirement in 1959.</p>
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He was with North American Aviation for 17 years. He earned an MBA, was in business and fraternal associations, and served as president of the South Bay Chapter of the National Contract Management Association.</p>
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After a long terminal illness, he joined the Long Gray Tine. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Eleanor; daughter Eleanor H. Purcell and her husband Kenneth of Los Angeles; sons W. Patrick and his wife Barbara of Scottsdale; Brian R. ofBoston and Joseph M. and his wfie Janet of Los Angeles; and five grandchildren. His surviving siblings include Monsignor Alfred F. Horrigan; Sister Ann and Sister Margaret Mary and Philip K. Horrigan.</p>