Born in Santa Rosa, California, November 1, 1923, Graduated from the Salinas, California, High School, June 1941
Attended the Salinas Junior College, 1941-42 Enrolled in the University of California, Davis, August 1942
Combination - Degree Program Withdrew 6 January 1943 to enlist
Military Service
MILITARY HISTORY
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Military Training
Enrolled as Private in the Enlisted Reserve Corps, 21 October 1942; entered on active duty 8 February 1943.
Appointed as Aviation Cadet, Army of the United States, 22 June 1943.
Feb to Feb 1943; 778th Technical School Squadron, AAF Technical Training Center, Fresno, California.
Feb to May 1943; 315th College Training Detachment, (AIRCREW), Arizona State Teachers College, Tempe,. Arizona.
May to Jul 1943; AF Classification Center and AF Preflight School (Pilot), Santa Ana, California.
Jul to Sep 1943; 16th AAF, Flying Training Detachment (Primary), Clairborne Flying Academy, Wickenburg, Arizona.
Oct to Dec 1943; 14th AAF Fly Tng Det (Basic), Polaris Flight Academy, Lancaster, California.
Dec 1943 to Feb 1944; AAF Pilot School (Advanced), 317th Two Engine Ftr Gp, Williams Field, Chandler, Arizona.
Graduated from the AAF Cadet Training Program (Fighter Pilot) on 7 February 1943 and honorably discharged.
COMMISSIONED Second Lieutenant, AUS, 8 February 1944; accepted appointment and entered on active duty same date.
Active Service Assignments
Feb to May 1944; Fighter Pilot, 29th Photo. Reconnaissance Squadron, 2nd Photo Group & Sec S, 348th Base Unit, Will Rogers Field, Oklahoma.
Jun to Oct 1944; Fighter Pilot, 9th Photo Recon Sq, 8th Photo Gp, India - Burma Theater.
In Service 3 years, 4 months and 2 days.
Lieutenant Pressley was listed as missing in action* 23 October 1944, and officially presumed dead as of 22 February 1946.
Decorations and Awards
PURPLE HEART (Posthumous).
GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL.
AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL.
ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL with one Bronze Service Star for participation in the India-Burma Campaign.
WORLD WAR II VICTORY MEDAL.
AVIATION BADGE ‘Pilot’.
*Lieutenant Pressley was piloting a P-38 which failed to return from a combat photographic mission over the Mandalay sector of Burma.