Willard J. Curtiss was born on a farm in Nez Perce Co., Idaho to John Herbert and Clara Mabel Baker Curtiss; the second child and only son. He graduated from Reubens H.S. in 1938. He served as a bomber pilot in WWII. He had made his 25 required raids, and volunteered for an extra bombing raid when his plane was shot down over Schweinfurt, Germany. He was the last to leave the plane and was killed. He was first buried in Germany, then his body was exhumed and reburied in Belgium, then his remains were exhumed again and sent to Idaho. 1LT Curtiss is now buried in the Normal Hill Cemetery, Lewiston, Nez Perce County, Idaho, USA.

B-17G 42-102497 crew:
• Curtiss, Willard J – 1/Lt – Pilot – KIA
• Collins, Thomas W – 1/Lt – Copilot – Safe
• Ghezzi, Edward H – 1/Lt – Navigator – Safe
• Merritt, James K – 1/Lt – Bombardier – Safe
• Barajas, Ralph R – Sgt – Engineer* – Safe
• Saporito, Salvatore A – S/Sgt – Radio Operator – KIA
• Blackwell, Robert C – S/Sgt – Ball Turret Gunner – Safe
• Pagac, Samuel J – S/Sgt – Waist Gunner – Safe
• Callaghan, Frank J – T/Sgt – Tail Gunner – KIA
(*In MACR 12177 Sgt Barajas is listed as tail gunner on this mission, but his diary reflects that he flew as top turret gunner.)

Source of information: www.findagrave.com