William E. Massey

William E. Massey of Homewood, Alabama and lately of Pell City, Alabama, Robert L. Howard State Veteran’s Home, was born and raised in Bessemer, Alabama on the 16th of November 1920. He passed away peacefully on Tuesday, the 14th of December 2021. He died at the age of 101.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Doris Ann McMurray Massey of Roanoke, Alabama. He leaves a son, Will Massey, and a daughter, Carol Ann Massey.

A February 1939 graduate of Bessemer High School, he went to work for the U.S. Steel Ore Mines and Quarries, at Wenonah, as an accountant.

Bill was a veteran of World War II and served in the United States Army Air Corp. He volunteered in early 1942 as an aviation cadet to train as a pilot, receiving his wings in June 1943. He was then assigned to Lockbourne Air Force Base in Columbus, Ohio, training as a B-17 Flying Fortress pilot. After taking combat training at Pyote, Texas, he was assigned to the Mighty Eighth Air Force, 401st Bomb Group, 612th Squadron based at Deenethorpe, England.

Bill completed 18 missions, which included 4 to Berlin and 2 on D-Day. His aircraft fell victim to anti-aircraft fire on June 19, 1944 on a mission to Bordeaux, France. Successfully evading capture, with the help of the French Underground, he worked his way to the allied forces and returned to England on September 3, 1944. Lt. Massey had been flying as lead pilot since his 14th mission.

After visiting his Bomb Group for a few days, he was returned to the United States where he served as a B-17 flight instructor at Hendrix Field in Sebring, Florida. He took further combat training at Laredo, Texas and in May 1945 was assigned to the Eastern Flying Training Command at Maxwell Field in Montgomery, Alabama as a Staff Pilot. Bill was honorably discharged from the Army in late November 1949.

Following honorable discharge from the Army Air Force, he enrolled at the University of Alabama and graduated in February 1949 with a BS degree in Industrial Engineering. While at the University of Alabama, he was a member of KA fraternity and met his future wife, marrying in May 1949.

After graduating from the University of Alabama he was employed by U.S. Steel and later by GM subsidiary, Motor Insurance Corp., retiring after 30 years of employment. In retirement, Bill was active with the Alabama Chapter of the Eighth Air Force Historical Society, serving as President, Vice President, and Board Member. He often visited local schools and civic clubs as the guest speaker relating his experiences during World War II. In 2003, he was selected as Alabama’s Air Force Veteran of the Year and honored by then Governor Bob Riley.

The family will receive friends on Thursday, the 16th of December from one o’clock in the afternoon until the time of service commencing at two o’clock in the afternoon at Ridout’s Valley Chapel in Homewood. Following the service burial will be held at Elmwood Cemetery in Birmingham, Alabama.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in honor of William Massey to Trinity United Methodist Church located at 1400 Oxmoor Road, Homewood, Alabama 35209 or to a charity of your choice. Services are under the direction of Ridout’s Valley Chapel (205-879-3401) in Homewood.