Dates

• Existence: 1920 - 1990

Biographical Note

William D. Dunham served as a pilot during World War II and continued in a long career with the U.S. Air Force.

William Douglas Dunham was born in Tacoma, Washington on January 29, 1920 to Edwin Gammon Dunham and R.D.V. Elizabeth Wahl. He had two brothers. He graduated from Nezpearce High School in Nezpearce, Idaho and attended the University of Idaho at Moscow, Idaho from 1937-1940. Dunham completed Air Corps Primary and Basic Flying Schools at Santa Monica and Moffett Field, California. He graduted from Advanced Flying School at Luke Field, Arizona, receiving a commission as second lieutenant on December 12, 1941. During World War II he served in the Pacific theater, deploying with the 342nd Fighter Squadron as operations officer and later commander. In July 1944, he became commander of the 460th Fighter Squadron in New Guinea and remained in this position until December 1944, when he became operations officer of the 348th Fighter Group, Philippine Islands. In 1945 he breifly came back to the U.S. before returning to the Pacific, serving as operations officer and then deputy commander.

Following the war, Dunham served as commander of Squadron B, 464th Army Air Force Base Unit at McChord Field, Washington. Later he served at Selfridge Field, Michigan; Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland; and Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. He left the Strategic Air Command in June 1951 to serve at Turner Air Force Base, Georgia and then Great Falls Air Force Base, Montana under the Strategic Fighter Wing. By 1958 he was serving in England as director of operations, 81st Tactical Fighter Wing. Followed that he served a term as commander, 479th Tactical Fighter Wing and then commander, 831st Air Division, both at George Air Force Base, California. In August 1966, General Dunham was assigned as deputy chief of staff for operations, Seventh Air Force, Vietnam.

Dunham retired from his extensive career with the United States Air Force on February 1, 1970. His rank upon retirement was Brigadier General. During his service he received the Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star with oak leaf cluster, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross with three oak leaf clusters, Air Medal with six oak leaf clusters, and the Air Force Commendation Medal.

Dunham married Bonnie Harris (1922-2012) on June 28, 1945. William D. Dunham died on March 3, 1990 in Issaquah, Washington and is buried in Bellevue, Washington.

Sources and Further reading:

Biography derived from collection information, records on Ancestry.com and USAF biography found online at https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Biographies/Display/Article/107188/brigadier-general-william-d-dunham/

Places

• Tacoma (Wash.) (Place of Birth)
• Washington (State) (Place of Birth)
• Washington (State) (Place of Death)
• Philippines (Associated Country)

Found in 1 Collection or Record: