Wood Carvings at JAC - From a WWII London Air Raid Shelter, A Frightened English Boy's Legacy of Honor

  • Published
  • By Peter G. Park
  • JIOCEUR Analytic Center
Walk around the 303rd Bomb Group Memorial Building at RAF Molesworth and you will see carved wooden plaques of "nose art" from B-17 Flying Fortresses. Have you ever wondered who did them - and why?

During the German "Blitz" bombing of London during World War II a young English boy sat frightened in a bomb shelter as bombs rained down on the East End of London and the shelter shook from near misses above. An American U.S. Army Air Corps pilot noticed the boy and comforted him. The American airman took the pilot's wings off his blouse and pinned them on the now smiling young Bill Adams.

From that moment on, Bill Adams was enamored with the U.S. Eighth Air Force and its exploits during the war. He watched as the B-17s and B-24's from the many American air bases in this country flew to and returned sometimes heavily damaged from raids over Nazi occupied Europe.

Master Wood Carver William F. "Bill" Adams passed away on August 22nd in London. Mr. Adams was a remarkable and talented man. His unique carvings now exceed 500 and have been made for almost 30 different Air Force Units and 10 museums. Mr. Adams has completed over 100 303rd BG(H) related carvings. Many have been personally carved for 303rd BG(H) Association members who have a deep respect for his generosity and friendship.

In July of 2003 a plaque honoring Bill Adams was purchased by his many friends, and is on display in the Memorial Gardens of the Mighty Eighth Air Force Heritage Museum in Pooler, Georgia.

His carvings including many displayed at the JAC in Building 100 and Building 320 can be viewed at the 303rd Bomb Group Association website at http://www.303rdbg.com/art-adams.html