William Robert Lawley Jr. (August 23, 1920 – May 30, 1999) was a United States Army Air Forces officer and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in World War II.
Early life
Born in 1920 in Leeds, Alabama, Lawley graduated from high school in his hometown in 1938.
Military career
Lawley joined the Army Air Forces from Birmingham, Alabama in April 1942, and earned his wings and commission at Altus, Oklahoma, in April 1943.
World War II
By February 20, 1944, Lawley was a first lieutenant serving as a pilot in the 364th Bomb Squadron, 305th Bomb Group. On that day, during a bombing mission over Nazi-controlled Europe, his B-17 Flying Fortress came under attack by enemy fighter aircraft. With his plane severely damaged and on fire, he ordered his crew to parachute to safety. Finding that two crewmen were too badly injured to bail out, Lawley chose to remain in the aircraft and, despite his own serious wounds, attempt to pilot it into friendly territory. Although weakened from loss of blood and shock, he was able to make a successful crash landing in England. Lawley recovered from his wounds and, on August 8, 1944, was awarded the Medal of Honor.
Lawley flew 14 combat missions until June 1944 as a first lieutenant. He returned to the United States in September 1944, serving as a public relations officer at Hendricks Army Airfield in Florida. Promoted to captain in January 1945, he completed the public relations course at Craig Field in Alabama and the Air Tactical School at Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida, serving during part of this time as aide to Gen. Muir Fairchild at Maxwell Field in Alabama.
Post war
He went to HQ United States Air Force in the Pentagon as administrative assistant to Maj. Gen. David Schlatter in a special weapons assignment, with promotion to major in August 1949.
In February 1950, he held special assignments to the commanding general of Air Research and Development Command, completing the Navy Language School at Fort Myer, Virginia, and the Strategic Intelligence School in Washington, D.C. After being promoted to lieutenant colonel, he served as an assistant air attaché to Brazil, serving until 1954. Upon his return to the United States, he attended the Air Command and Staff School at Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama, and on graduation was assigned as commander of the 55th Air Refueling Squadron at Forbes Air Force Base in Kansas. He continued to serve at Forbes AFB as Aircrew Maintenance Staff Officer for the 21st Air Division, and later as Deputy Base Commander and Deputy Vice Commander of the 815th Combat Support Group.
Lawley was promoted to colonel on March 27, 1959. In January 1963, he became Assistant Phase Chief Director of Curricular at the Air War College at Maxwell AFB. He retired from the Air Force at the rank of colonel in 1972.
Later life
Lawley and his wife Amy had two daughters and one son, and five grandchildren.
He died at age 78 due to complications from pneumonia. He was buried in Greenwood Cemetery, Montgomery, Alabama.