Willis E. Spellman was born on August 8, 1924. He was the son of George Ermel Spellman and Romilda M. Casey Spellman. He was married to Rosalee Trebing Spellman. He enlisted in the service on August 18, 1942. He served in the 328th Bomb Squadron, 93rd Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Staff Sergeant and Radio Operator of B-24 #42-7614 nicknamed ''Buckeye" during World War II.

On January 7, 1944, the B-24 Liberator Buckeye participated in a strategic bombing mission against Ludwigshafen, Germany, a major center for the production of synthetic fuel and chemicals. Before reaching its target, the bomber sustained anti-aircraft damage when flak struck the cooling system of Engine No. 4. After completing the bombing run, the aircraft began its return flight to England, but Engine No. 4 was hit again and failed, forcing the Buckeye to leave the formation as it steadily lost speed and altitude. Shortly afterward, Engine No. 2 was also disabled by anti-aircraft fire, while ruptured fuel lines filled the aircraft with gasoline fumes, requiring the crew to wear their oxygen masks for protection. As the damaged bomber crossed occupied France, it passed over the Eiffel Tower before turning west, only to come under heavy German anti-aircraft fire again near Melun and Pringy. Additional flak destroyed the aircraft's radio, intercom, and compasses, wounded the flight engineer and radio operator, and left one engine ablaze. With the aircraft no longer controllable, the pilot ordered the crew to bail out. The Buckeye crashed near Pringy, Seine-et-Marne, while its ten-man crew parachuted from the stricken aircraft. Two airmen were killed in the incident, three were wounded, and five escaped without injury. Of the eight survivors, five were captured. They became prisoners of war, while the remaining three successfully evaded capture with the assistance of the French Resistance and escape networks before eventually returning to Allied control.

SSgt Spellman successfully bailed out of the aircraft and evaded capture with the help of the Underground and arrived back in England in March. He was discharged from the army on November 27, 1945. He died on November 29, 1996, and is now buried in the Walnut Ridge Cemetery, Jeffersonville, Clark County, Indiana, USA.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, americanarchive.iwm.org.uk