William Patrick Bonelli was born in March 1921 in Indiana, Pennsylvania. He grew up with an older brother. He credits his brother with keeping him on a good path throughout his childhood. Bonelli's parents did not get along and the family ended up moving to six different towns during his childhood. His father was not around much when Bonelli was young. He did not visit his father when he returned from the war. As a bomber, he bombed the area his father was born in, just north of Rome. His father did not do anything for Bonelli when he was a kid though he did teach Bonelli a little bit about engines. Bonelli left home with only a dime in his pocket. When he left, his mother cried. During the Great Depression, he did not have much to eat. He was given meals after being sworn into the Army. He moved around the country, eventually arriving in Hawaii. He enlisted into the Air Corps in July 1940 as a 19 year old. He chose the Air Corps because he did not want to be in the infantry in the coming war. Bonelli had seen pictures from World War 1, and he did not want to experience those same things. One day, a truck with an airplane on it stopped in front of his family's house. Bonelli climbed in the cockpit, sparking his interested in aviation. When he enlisted, he said he wanted to be near airplanes. He was sent to Hawaii for duty.

For the first four months of his service, William Patrick Bonelli made 21 dollars a month. He had very little training. He initially served as a filing clerk. After the attack at Pearl Harbor [Annotator's Note: the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on 7 December 1941], he was allowed to go to aircraft maintenance school. He was adept at mechanics. He worked on the B-18 [Annotator's Note: Douglas B-18 Bolo medium bomber], C-47 [Annotator's Note: Douglas C-47 Skytrain cargo aircraft], and the O-47 [Annotator's Note: North American O-47 observation aircraft]. He was a specialist on several aspects of airplane mechanics. His commander ignored his specialties, leading to his deployment to the Fiji Islands in 1942. He was in despair over being so far from the mainland [Annotator's Note: United States]. He gets angry when people disrespects the national anthem [Annotator's Note: The Star Spangled Banner] and the flag. He noticed an African-American warrant officer would walk to the hanger where the B-17s [Annotator's Note: Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bomber] were stored. Bonelli gave the warrant officer a tour on the bombers. The warrant officer could not understand why Bonelli was not flying planes. Bonelli explained what happened with his applications to air school. A few days later, the same warrant officer returned and told Bonelli that his papers were on top of the list. He walked off before Bonelli could thank him. One week later, Bonelli was on his way to Los Anegeles [Annotator's Note: Los Anegeles, California]. On his first night on the ship everyone was getting sick because they were going through a storm. Bonelli decided to stay on the deck to get away from the smell. It took 20 days to reach Los Angeles. He was so excited to have a chance at flying he shouted during the storm. Once in California, he was examined and given physicals. As a child, he broke his wrist, but it was not set right, so they had to reset the bone. That broken wrist almost ended his chances of flying. Bonelli was also a staff sergeant at the time, which helped his case. He was sent to train around the southwest, eventually earning his wings and a commission. He chose to fly the B-17 bomber because he knew everything about the plane. After finishing his training on the airplane, he went to Tampa, Florida to pick up his crew, then traveled to Gulfport, Mississippi for combat crew training. He picked up his plane in Georgia, then flew to Foggia, Italy. He flew 30 sorties [Annotator's Note: combat flights] with the 773rd Bombardment Squadron, 463rd Bombardment Group [Annotator's Note: 15th Air Force].

Early on, William Patrick Bonelli had to teach the pilot about flying, which he believes lead to him not being asked to lead the squadron on missions. He volunteered to be the lead squadron pilot [Annotator's Note: for the 773rd Bombardment Squadron 463rd bombardment Group, 15th Air Force]. Despite being the first pilot, his forms say copilot. On his second or third mission as squadron lead, he was hit and almost lost the plane. He was almost hit by shrapnel. He made it back to base with only two working engines. His crew rode into the base with him instead of bailing out. Bonelli was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. That was his most difficult mission. He laid awake for several nights. He wanted to give the lead squadron position up because it was suicidal. The German 88mm gun [Annotator's Note: German 88mm multi-purpose artillery] was too accurate. After not sleeping for so long, he took a walk with his bombardier to ask him if it was possible for him to fly slightly off course and still make an accurate bombing run. Eight or nine times, he looked to his sides and saw flak [Annotator's Note: antiaircraft artillery fire] right where he was supposed to be. Bonelli still took hits, but stopped losing aircraft and he took less casualties. He decided not to tell his commander about his new tactic. He resented the way his commanders ran their missions. He believes that by flying his squadron offset, he survived the war. He believes the Germans knew exactly where the planes would be. During one mission to bomb a bridge, his bombardier could not find the bridge. They decided to drop their bombs on a nearby building. Two weeks later, a colonel scolded him for missing the target and knocking the colonels score down, which Bonelli resented. He had a high bombing percentage. His plane did not have a ball turret, it had radar.

William Patrick Bonelli was never injured in combat. The closest he got was shrapnel hitting his pilot's chair. He asked his wing commander if he could stay a few month after he finished his 30th mission. His commander refused because he had enough points [Annotator's Note: points were derived from a number of things varying from combat missions to time in service] to go home. He left on a Liberty ship [Annotator's Note: a class of quickly produced cargo ship], returning to New York [Annotator's Note: New York, New York]. He was mad because he wanted to see Europe on foot. When he left Foggia [Annotator's Note: Foggia, Italy], he was a captain, so he decided to stay in the military for 15 more years. Upon returning home, he traveled around the country. Eventually, he arrived in New Hampshire, where he was checked out on the B-29 [Annotator's Note: Boeing B-29 Superfortress very heavy bomber]. He transferred to West Palm Beach, Florida. There, he trained at Morrison Field in the B-29. He took a position in a weather group flying a DC-3 [Annotator's Note: Douglas DC-3; civilian variant of the C-47 Skytrain cargo aircraft] at Mitchell Field, Long Island [Annotator's Note: Long Island, New York]. He worked there for a year. Bonelli liked his commander. He then took an aircraft maintenance officer course in Illinois. Bonelli stayed on as an instructor and eventually ran the course. Training Command Headquarters needed staff officer, so Bonelli went into the technical portion of the headquarters. He was the only pilot in the group. He trained in jets while there. He was in that unit for five years. He was in charge of all aircraft engine maintenance. He then took a two week course in the F-84F [Annotator's Note: Republic F-84F Thunderstreak fighter-bomber] fighter bomber jet in Amarillo [Annotator's Note: Amarillo, Texas]. It had no guns, and was built to deliver the atomic bomb. He then went to Luke Airbase [Annotator's Note: Luke Air Force Base, Arizona] to be checked out as a pilot.

William Patrick Bonelli transferred to England. For the first six months, he served as an aircraft maintenance advisor in Holland. After two or three months, he did not enjoy the job as much. He thought he was there to rebuild the economy of Europe and be a force against the Russians. The Cold War [Annotator’s Note: a period of geopolitical tension between the Soviet Union and the United States and their respective allies from 1945 to 1991] had started by that time. They gave F-84Fs [Annotator's Note: Republic F-84F Thunderstreak fighter bomber] to the French, Dutch, Germans, and Italians. During this time, he was finally able to see Europe. When he returned to England, he was the maintenance control officer for 90 F-84Fs. He was checked out again as a pilot, so he was allowed to fly. He flew to Africa to go on maneuvers. They practiced the procedures of delivering a tactical nuclear bomb. When doing a strike, Bonelli would not go into a dive, or else he would killed from the heat. While on maneuvers, three B-36s [Annotator’s Note: Convair B-36 Peacemaker strategic bomber] were practicing dropping bombs from high altitude.

William Patrick Bonelli retired as a lieutenant colonel in 1960. On the night of 6 December 1941, Bonelli was in downtown Honolulu [Annotator's Note: Honolulu, Hawaii]. He saw Navy personnel in their white uniforms everywhere. He heard many sailors were picked up and put in their ship's brigs [Annotator's Note: prison]. There were free drinks downtown. Bonelli met some friends late that night and ended up on the north side of Oahu [Annotator's Note: Hawaii]. They slept there that night and planned to return to Hickam Field [Annotator's Note: an Army Airfield near Pearl Harbor] the next morning. On the beach, Bonelli saw a car sitting there and figured it was some kids. Within 50 feet, he could see four heads through the window. He started backing up when he noticed two antennas in the rear. He thought it seemed sinister, but ran off as fast as he could. He later read that George C. Marshall [Annotator's Note: US Chief of Staff and General of the Army George C. Marshall] sent a memo to Admiral Kimmel [Annotator's Note: US Navy Admiral Husband E. Kimmel] to anticipate enemy activity. Bonelli wishes he had had that information back then. He knew there was going to be a war, but did not know when. He believes that Short [Annotator's Note: US Army Lieutenant General Walter Short] and Kimmel expected activity [Annotator's Note: sabotage activity] from the locals. He was not able to see any of the Japanese aircraft coming in. The first aircraft he saw was when he was near Wheeler Field. Overhead, three Zeros [Annotator's Note: Japanese Mitsubishi A6M fighter aircraft, referred to as the Zeke or Zero] were in formation. Bonelli did not recognize the planes. Minutes later, he saw planes hitting Wheeler Field and the ships near Ford Island. When he returned to base, he asked the adjutant general what they should do, but he did not know. Bonelli wanted to run towards the barracks for protection, but was shot at. They were lining up to get rifles when a number of men were strafed. Bonelli received his rifle and was ready to fight street to street. Bonelli believes Yamamoto [Annotator's Note: Imperial Japanese Navy Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto] gave a big hit, but gave it all up when he pulled away. Bonelli would have had troops land to finish the job. A bullet shot into a bowl in the latrine he was in and Bonelli saw it spin in the bowl.

William Bonelli felt bad for the sailors who died at Pearl Harbor [Annotator's Note: during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on 7 December 1941]. He talks about the sailors who died in the USS Oklahoma (BB-37) and the attempted rescue. He decided not to go to Hickam Field [Annotator's Note: a US Army Airfield near Pearl Harbor] because he did not want to hear the tapping of the trapped sailors. He never wants to go back to Hawaii or anywhere in the Pacific. He volunteered to stand guard at a hospital after he got his rifle. He saw them digging a ditch near the hospital that was used for amputated body parts. It upset Bonelli. He saw many wounded people. He thought Japanese troops would be arriving at any moment. Bonelli was on base and witnessed much confusion. His squadron maintained aircraft for the military brass [Annotator's Note: high ranking officers]. He did not go downtown for several days after the attack. There was alot of reorganization happening and Bonelli's new squadron was sent to the Fiji Islands.

William Patrick Bonelli felt lucky that he stayed in the service because it kept him busy. He was happy to be so busy. Bonelli only received a high school education. He made himself as needed as possible. He did not give much thought to the battles and wars. Since retiring from military and civil service, he thinks about his service more. Some of what he thinks about hurts. He dreams about Pearl Harbor [Annotator's Note: the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on 7 December 1941], Italy, and the Cold War [Annotator’s Note: a period of geopolitical tension between the Soviet Union and the United States and their respective allies from 1945 to 1991]. He feels lucky, but also feels like he has made good luck for himself. He tried to play the odds as much as possible. Bonelli is surprised by the number of people that are interested in the war. People thank him for his service. He thinks much of the connection is not only through family, but what is on the television. He sees Hitler [Annotator's Note: German dictator Adolf Hitler] on television all the time and fears that he is in some way being glorified. Bonelli believes in telling the truth. He believes Hitler was evil and Stalin [Annotator's Note: Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin] was worse. He does not understand how or who gave him enough power to kill so many people. He believes there is too much misery. He is more sensitive to human misery since the war. He feels lucky, but also thinks he had control over that luck. Bonelli does not know why some people think they have the right to shoot other people. He remembered seeing World War 1 movies, which is why he decided not to go into the infantry.