Harvey W. Tiller, Jr.
Francis Marion Cain, Jr.
Army Air Corps (Forces)
Army Air Corp
Harvey W. Tiller, Jr., born in Mayesville, South Carolina on February 14, 1925, entered the Army Air Corps on June 27, 1943. He served in the European Theatre of Operations from April 5, 1945 to May 7, 1946 in the 115th Airways and Air Communications Service Squadron in the Middle East. Awarded the Good Conduct Medal, the American Campaign Medal, the European-African-Middle East-Campaign Medal and the World War II Victory Medal, Sergeant Tiller received his honorable discharge papers on May 12, 1946.Harvey Tiller
Harvey Tiller
Frank Cain
Frank Cain and crew

Detail of Cain Bomber Jacket
Detail of Bomber Jacket		Francis Marion "Frank" Cain, Jr., born in Sumter, South Carolina on May 10, 1924, graduated from the U. S. Army Air Corps Pilot School on September 8, 1944. In October 1944, he reported to Coffeyville Army Air Field to begin training on the F-5, a photo reconnaissance version of the P-38 Lightning. In February, 1945, the Army assigned Cain to the 23rd Photo Reconnaissance Squadron, 3rd Photo Group in the European Theatre of Operations. 2nd Lt. Cain flew numerous combat missions in northern Italy and southern France, earning two Air Medals, the Purple Heart, the European Theatre Campaign Medal with four bronze stars, the American Campaign Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, and the French Cross of War.
In September, 1939, the Army's air arm became known as the U. S. Army Air Corps (changed to Forces in 1941). Although still nominally a part of the Army, the Army Air Corps achieved operational independence by March of 1942. During World War II, the growth of the air arm was explosive. In 1938, 20,196 men were serving in the Corps. By 1945, an estimated 1,900,000 men and women served throughout the world. The Air Corps also employed more than 400,000 civilians and 1,500,000 volunteers in the Ground Observer Corps.
Army Air Corps Uniform
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Harvey W. Tiller, Jr., from the Collection of the Sumter County Museum

Army Air Corps Uniform
Loan courtesy of Mrs. Frank Cain, Jr. and Mr. Marion Cain