[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 52 (Tuesday, March 21, 1995)]
[House]
[Pages H3399-H3400]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            HONORING WILLIAM J. SHADE, A TRUE AMERICAN HERO

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. Holden] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. HOLDEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight to honor a member of a World 
War II, B-17 bomber crew for an act of heroism that, until now, has 
gone unrecognized. His name is William J. Shade, of Fleetwood, PA, and 
he was a technical sergeant in World War II. He has been awarded there 
Oak Leaf Clusters and one Air Medical.
  William Shade was a radio operator and gunner with the 545th Bomber 
Squadron, based in England during the war. He entered the service in 
November of 1942. He received his preliminary training in California, 
and was later trained as a radio operator in South Dakota, and took 
gunnery training at Tyndall Field, FL. He was promoted to sergeant 
before going overseas in 1943, and while overseas was promoted to staff 
sergeant and later technical sergeant.
  The accounts of William Shade's heroic act are taken from crew 
members who were saved by his bravery. These men would not have 
survived the mission were it not for Mr. Shade's actions.
  On March 3, 1994, the 545th Bomb Squadron of the 384th Bomb Group 
based at Grafton-Underwood in England was dispatched on a mission over 
Berlin.
  The crew had been briefed to expect less than perfect weather over 
the target. However, the briefing officer believed that the crew could 
fly above the weather somewhere between 20 or 25 thousand feet. As the 
mission progressed it became apparent that the bomber was not going to 
find weather good enough to maintain formation and bomb their target.
  Approximately, two thirds of the way to Berlin, the mission was 
recalled and the B-17 was told to return to England.
  Shortly after the bomber had completed its turn to proceed to their 
base in England, Sergeant ``Chick'' Metz, the ball turret gunner, 
requested permission to leave his battle station for a short time.
  At this time, the plane was still flying at 25,000 feet. A few 
seconds later the oxygen control officer, Lieutenant Betalotti checked 
to see if Sergeant Metz had returned to his battle station, but he did 
not answer.
  After a few more seconds he was again called and still did not 
answer. One of the waist gunners, Sergeant Alfter, went to check on 
him.
  Sergeant Alfter reported that Sergeant Metz was apparently 
unconscious and would need some help. About the same time Sergeant 
Alfter lost consciousness because of lack of oxygen. A third person, 
gunner, Sergeant Gatzman, proceeded to the access door of the ball 
turret to give Sergeant Metz and Sergeant Alfter aid, but he too passed 
out.
  Then Sergeant William Shade, looked through the door of the radio 
room, saw and recognized the seriousness of the situation for the three 
unconscious gunners, and began to take immediate action.
  With no regard for his own personal safety, Sergeant Shade 
disconnected his own oxygen, and made it to the location of a walk-
around oxygen
 bottle, which was very small and had only a few minutes of oxygen 
left. He was able to connect the ball turret gunners normal oxygen 
supply and then was able to connect Sergeant Alfter's and Sergeant 
Gatzman's supply. All three gunners regained consciousness within a few 
moments and suffered no permanent mental effects. If it had not been 
for the Sergeant William Shade's quick action under pressure, the three 
crew member's would not have survived.

  When the B-17 returned to the base, one of the crew members mentioned 
to the debriefing officer that Sergeant William Shade should receive a 
medal for his actions. The debriefing officer, said the least that 
could be done was to give him a promotion. The officer promoted William 
Shade to staff sergeant then and there.
  [[Page H3400]] Following this extraordinary mission, William Shade 
and the crew flew 12 more times until their 25th mission when their B-
17 was shot down over France on April 13, 1944. Mr. Shade was then 
arrested and sent to Frankfurt, Germany. He was finally transported by 
cattle-car to Stalag 17B in Austria were he was a prisoner of war from 
April 13, 1944 to May 2, 1945.
  Mr. Speaker, Americans have always answered the call of duty to 
defend our freedom. The history of our Nation is full of actions of 
individual heroism.
  William Shade may not have received the medal he deserved, but three 
men have him to thank for saving their lives and it is never too late 
to recognize the bravery of those who have defended our freedom.
  It is with great pride that I honor William Shade and ask my 
colleagues to join me in recognizing this true American hero.


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