By Deborah Larsen
Frederick Halmer “Fred” Riley Jr.
Frederick Halmer “Fred” Riley Jr. was born in Detroit, Michigan, on December 21, 1919, the son of Frederick and Cora Huff Riley. The Riley family moved to Avon Township when Fred was a teenager and lived on Hamlin Road. Fred attended Rochester High School and graduated with the class of 1939.
After high school, Fred worked as a clerk in a hardware store and then at Yellow Truck & Coach in Pontiac. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Forces in October 1941 and was trained as a bombardier. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in August 1943. Fred was assigned to the 745th Bomb Squadron of the 456th Bombardment Group based at Stonara Airfield, Italy, in 1944. He flew 41 missions in the B-24 Liberator bomber and was awarded the Air Medal and the Distinguished Flying Cross.
After the war, Fred remained in the U.S. Air Force Reserve and retired at the rank of lieutenant colonel after 30 years of service.
Frederick Halmer Riley Jr. died at age 88 on May 15, 2008, and was laid to rest in Muskegon, Michigan.