Lt. Col. Harold W. Moll
(1906 - 1967)
|
Harold Moll was born in Reading,
Pennsylvania on April 24th, 1906. Both of his parents came from Germany. He
graduated from Reading High School in 1925. On 25 November 1925 he enlisted in
the United States Army for three years, being discharged on 24 November 1928.
During
his three-year enlistment, Private First Class Moll's principal duty was a
gunner and searchlight operator. He was assigned to Fort Totten, ND
Upon
his discharge Harold Moll returned to Reading. The 1930 census shows him living
with an uncle, Robert Graul at 1125 Franklin Street. Harold Moll listed his
occupation being a casual laborer. The census shows he had a brother, Fredrick,
living at the same address.
On
16 April 1933, Harold Moll re-entered the armed forces, enlisting in the United
States Army Air Corps in Philadelphia, PA. His initial duty was an Aircraft
Mechanic, later becoming a crew chief in 1937.
His
assignments are listed as follows:
|
Group |
Unit |
Station |
Aircraft |
25 Jul 1933 |
2nd |
Langley AAF, VA |
||
1 Sep 1933 |
2nd |
96th Bombardment Squadron (TDY) |
Albrook AAF, CZ |
|
31 Jul 1936 |
|
47th Sch Sq AC |
Randolph AAF, TX |
|
15 Sep 1937 |
2nd |
96th Bombardment Squadron GHQ AF |
Langley AAF, VA |
B-10B |
15 Sep 1940 |
2nd |
96th Bombardment Squadron. (H) GHQ AF |
Langley AAF, VA |
|
2 May 1941 |
43rd |
Langley AAF, VA |
||
31 Aug 1941 |
43rd |
65th Bombardment Sq (TDY) |
Dow AAF, ME |
B-18A |
17 Feb 1942 |
303rd |
Gowen AAF, ID |
His
military record shows that Harold Moll was promoted to Corporal on 31 June
1936, and to Sergeant on 15 Sep 1937, eventually reaching the rank of Master Sergeant.
His principal duty was as an Aircraft Mechanic, becoming a crew chief. On 15
May 1942, Harold Moll left the enlisted ranks and became a Warrant Officer. As
a Warrant Officer, Harold Moll served as follows:
From |
To |
MOS |
Duties |
Unit |
Location |
Aircraft |
15 May 1942 |
27
Aug 1942 |
|
Materiel Inspector (WO) |
15th Bombardment Wing |
Gowen AAF, Boise ID |
|
28 Aug 1942 |
25 Sep 1942 |
4823 |
Aircraft Engineering Officer (WO) |
Gray AAF, Walla Walla, WA |
||
26 Sep 1942 |
31 Dec 1942 |
4823 |
Aircraft Engineering Officer (WO) |
99th Bomb Group/HQ Det |
Kearney AAF, Sioux City, IA |
B-17F |
1 Jan 1943 |
14 Aug 1943 |
4823 |
Aircraft Engineering Officer (WO) |
99th Bomb Group (H)/ HQ Det |
Navarin, Algeria |
B-17F |
On
15 Aug 1943, Harold Moll received a reserve officer commission. His service was as follows:
From |
To |
MOS |
Duties |
Rank |
Unit |
Location |
Aircraft |
15 Aug 1943 |
16
Sep 1943 |
|
Aircraft Engineering Officer |
2LT |
99th Bomb Group (H) / 416th Bombardment Sq |
Navarin, Algeria |
B-17F |
17 Sep 1943 |
13 Dec 1943 |
4823 |
Aircraft Engineering Officer |
2LT |
99th Bomb Group (H) / 416th Bombardment Sq |
Oudna, Tunisa |
B-17F |
1 Jan 1944 |
3 Mar 1944 |
4823 |
Aircraft Engineering Officer |
2LT |
99th Bomb Group (H) / 416th Bombardment Sq |
Marcianise, Italy |
|
4 Mar 1944 |
16 Aug 1944 |
4823 |
Aircraft Engineering Officer |
1LT |
99th Bomb Group (H) / 416th Bombardment Sq |
Marcianise, Italy |
B-17G |
7 Aug 1944 |
20 Sep 1944 |
4000 |
Materiel Officer |
CPT |
99th Bomb Group (H)/ HQ Detachment |
Marcianise, Italy |
B-17G |
21 Sep 1944 |
19 Oct 1944 |
7536 |
Technical Inspector |
CPT |
99th Bomb Group (H)/ HQ Detachment |
Marcianise, Italy |
B-17G |
20 Oct 1944 |
2 Dec 1944 |
4000 |
Supply Officer |
CPT |
99th Bomb Group (H)/ HQ Detachment |
Marcianise, Italy |
B-17G |
3 Dec 1944 |
27 Jul 1945 |
7536 |
Group Air Inspector |
CPT |
99th Bomb Group (H)/ HQ Detachment |
Marcianise, Italy |
B-17G |
After
the war, Harold Moll remained in the Army Air Forces. His service was as follows:
From |
To |
MOS |
Duties |
Rank |
Unit |
Location |
Aircraft |
23 Sep 1945 |
20
Nov 1945 |
|
Aircraft Engineering Officer |
CPT |
Biggs AAF, TX |
||
10 Feb 1946 |
28 May 1946 |
7536 |
Group Technical Inspector |
CPT |
Merced AAF, CA |
B-29 |
|
29 May 1946 |
30 Jun 1946 |
4000 |
Chief, Supply & Transportation |
MAJ |
444th Bombardment Group (VH)/HQ Det |
Davis-Monthan, AAF, AZ |
B-29 |
1 Jul 1946 |
15 Oct 1946 |
4000 |
A/C, Supply & Transportation |
MAJ |
444th Bombardment Group (VH)/HQ Det |
Davis-Monthan, AAF, AZ |
B-29 |
16 Oct 1946 |
16 Nov 1947 |
4000 |
A/C,
Supply & Transportation |
MAJ |
444th Bombardment Group (VH)/585 AM/Sq |
Davis-Monthan, AAF, AZ |
B-29 |
On
26 November 1947, as a result of Transfer Order #1, Major Harold Moll was
transferred to the Department of the Air Force. His USAF service was as follows:
From |
To |
MOS |
Duties |
Rank |
Unit |
Location |
Aircraft |
17 Nov 1947 |
24
Jul 1948 |
|
A/C, Supply & Transportation |
MAJ |
Davis-Monthan, AFB, AZ |
B-29 |
|
25 Jul 1948 |
3 Dec 1948 |
4000 |
M&S Liaison w/ 5010 Wing |
MAJ |
43rd M&S Group / Supply Sq. (TDY) |
Elmendorf AFB, AK |
B-29 |
4 Dec 1948 |
2 Jan 1950 |
4000 |
Chief,
Supply & Transportation |
MAJ |
43rd Maintenance & Supply Group |
Davis-Monthan, AFB, AZ |
|
3 Jan 1950 |
17 May 1950 |
4000 |
Base Accountable Officer |
MAJ |
43rd Maintenance & Supply Group |
Davis-Monthan, AFB, AZ |
B-50A |
3 Jul 1950 |
31 Jul 1950 |
4010 |
A/C Supply Con Division |
MAJ |
HQ USAFE / Directorate Of Supply |
Wiesbaden AB, GER, APO 633 |
|
1 Aug 1950 |
15 Jul 1951 |
4010 |
OIC Class IV Supply |
MAJ |
7110th Maintenance & Supply Group |
Wiesbaden AB, GER, APO 633 |
|
16 Jul 1951 |
23 Aug 1951 |
4000 |
Base Accountable Officer |
MAJ |
7112th Supply Squadron |
Wiesbaden AB, GER, APO 633 |
|
24 Aug 1951 |
4 Jun 1952 |
4010 |
Group Materiel Officer |
MAJ |
7110th Maintenance & Supply Group |
Wiesbaden AB, GER, APO 633 |
|
5 Jun 1952 |
24 Sep 1952 |
6416 |
Group Materiel Officer |
MAJ |
7110th Maintenance & Supply Group |
Wiesbaden AB, GER, APO 633 |
|
25 Sep 1952 |
13 June 1953 |
6416 |
GMS/DCS Maintenance |
MAJ |
7110th Maintenance & Supply Group |
Wiesbaden AB, GER, APO 633 |
|
25 Jul 1953 |
4 Oct 1953 |
6416 |
Chief, Aircraft & Communications Supply Branch |
LTC |
HQ MATS/ Supply & Systems Division |
HQ USAF, DC |
|
5 Oct 1953 |
9 Jun 1954 |
6416 |
Chief, Supply/Systems Div |
LTC |
HQ Continental Division / MATS |
Kelly AFB, TX |
|
10 Jun 1954 |
6 Apr 1955 |
4311 |
Maintenance Staff Officer |
LTC |
1700th Air Transportation Group |
Kelly AFB, TX |
|
7 Apr 1955 |
16 Sep 1957 |
4316 |
Squadron Commander |
LTC |
1700th Field Maintenance Squadron |
Kelly AFB, TX |
C-54, C-121 |
Lt. Colonel Harold Moll retired
from the United States Air Force on 13 November 1957. His military record shows the following awards:
Bronze Star
Good Conduct Medal
American Defense Service Medal
American Campaign Service
Medal
World War II Victory Medal
European-African-Middle
Eastern Campaign Medal
USAAF Distinguished Unit Badge
Army Commendation Medal
Army Of Occupation Medal,
World War II
National Defense Service Medal
Air Force Reserve Medal
Air Force Commendation Ribbon
After his retirement from the
Air Force, Harold Moll resided in San
Antonio Texas. He died on December
5th , 1967 at the Wilford Hall Medical Center, Lackland AFB, TX.
His service numbers were as
follows:
6773975 (Enlisted)
2103232 (Warrant Officer)
0518559 (Officer)