William Edward Dolan served during the First World War as a combat aviation. Although he was disqualified from flying due to his age by the time of World War II, Dolan brought a vast source of creativity and knowledge to the 384th Bombardment Group, with which he had been serving since its inception. As an intelligence officer, his desire to inform his men as if he were going to be flying with them himself led to his eventual recommendation for the Legion of Merit.