Ensign William P. Bannister 0315134 KIA,

Ensign William P. Bannister 0315134 KIA, US Navy. He was the son of Lee S. and Ruth Bannister, was born in 1923 in Rochester, New York. He attended West High School, winning letters in basketball and soccer, serving on the principal's advisory committee and graduating.William entered Naval service in Rochester. After Squantum, Mass., he received his wings at Pensacola, Fla., in September, 1943. Ensign Bannister was on duty with "Task Force 58 ", famous Navy unit ranging over much of Central and South Pacific in support of American landings and in depredations against the Japanese across thousands of miles of ocean. Ensign Bannister had more than 600 hours of combat flying in seven months in action while his squadron took part in Marshalls, Saipan and Guam campaigns and was believed to be lending support to Marine landings in the Pelelieu Islands. The pilot 21 years of age, lost his life September 22, 1944 trying to save a buddy's life. Drawing fire to himself, to take the range of Japaneses guns off a mate who had crashed, he crashed. His body was not found. He was survived by his parents, a sister, a half brother and his paternal grandmother of Griswold Road, Bergen. He was awarded the Air Medal, Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, World War II Victory Medal, American Campaign Medal, Navy Presidential Unit Citation, Navy Good Conduct Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, Navy Expeditionary Medal.

Ensign William P. Bannister 0315134 KIA, US Navy. He was the son of Lee S. and Ruth Bannister, was born in 1923 in Rochester, New York. He attended West High School, winning letters in basketball and soccer, serving on the principal’s advisory committee and graduating.William entered Naval service in Rochester. After Squantum, Mass., he received his wings at Pensacola, Fla., in September, 1943. Ensign Bannister was on duty with “Task Force 58 “, famous Navy unit ranging over much of Central and South Pacific in support of American landings and in depredations against the Japanese across thousands of miles of ocean. Ensign Bannister had more than 600 hours of combat flying in seven months in action while his squadron took part in Marshalls, Saipan and Guam campaigns and was believed to be lending support to Marine landings in the Pelelieu Islands. The pilot 21 years of age, lost his life September 22, 1944 trying to save a buddy’s life. Drawing fire to himself, to take the range of Japaneses guns off a mate who had crashed, he crashed. His body was not found. He was survived by his parents, a sister, a half brother and his paternal grandmother of Griswold Road, Bergen. He was awarded the Air Medal, Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, World War II Victory Medal, American Campaign Medal, Navy Presidential Unit Citation, Navy Good Conduct Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, Navy Expeditionary Medal.

1- Genesee County World War Two Gold Star MEMORIAL BOOK