WWII Veteran Who Flew 113 Combat Missions, William Crawford Diman, of Warwick, Dies at 102
The Urquhart-Murphy Funeral Home
WWII Veteran Who Flew 113 Combat Missions, William Crawford Diman, of Warwick, Dies at 102
Born in Cranston, RI on September 18, 1919, he was the son of Louis Willard and Caroline Angell (Martin) Diman. He married his loving wife of 74 years, the late Angela (Perazzola) Diman, on January 8, 1944, in Wilmington, North Carolina.
On December 8, 1941, the day after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Bill enlisted in the U.S. Army and was initially assigned as an aircraft mechanic. Wishing to become a pilot, he taught himself algebra in order to pass the Cadet Entrance Exam. Completing Cadet training, he went through nine months of flight training before being sent to the European Theater. Before going overseas, he met, fell in love with, and married Angela.
During the War, he flew 113 combat missions in a P-47 Thunderbolt fighter bomber and earned two Distinguished Flying Cross awards and 18 Air Medals. The name painted on his airplane was “Lady Angela”. He was honorably discharged from the Army Air Corps in June 1945 as a 1st Lieutenant.
Returning to Rhode Island after his military service, he worked several jobs before going to work at C.I. Hayes, a manufacturer of industrial heat-treating furnaces. Starting in fabrication, he advanced to lab and service technician, and then to sales. Along the way, he designed an inexpensive jewelry furnace that was a great success. Bill retired from Hayes after 37 years with the title Director of Sales in 1984.
He is survived by his beloved sons, William Louis Diman (Colette) and Kenneth Charles Diman (Louise), his grandchildren, Kelly Daly (Paul), Kimberly Quesnel (Scott), Kristina Diman, Joseph Diman (Krystina), Monique Diman (Elkanah Riley, fiancé), and his great-grandchildren, Maren Daly, Ryan Daly, Ava Quesnel, Levi Quesnel, Joseph Diman, and Christian Diman.
In addition to his beloved wife Angela, he was predeceased by his three siblings, Louisa Pitcher (Francis), Mildred Oakley (Norman), and Edgar Diman (Regina).
His Funeral will be held on Tuesday, November 9, 2021, at 10:30 am from The Urquhart-Murphy Funeral Home, 800 Greenwich Avenue, Warwick, with a Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at 11 am at St. Catherine of Siena Church, 3252 Post Rd, Warwick.
Interment with Military Honors will follow at Quidnessett Memorial Cemetery in North Kingstown.
Visitation will be held prior to the Mass at the Funeral Home from 9:30 am – 10:30 am.
In lieu of flowers, gifts in his memory to Wreaths Across America or to Our Lady of Providence Seminary, 485 Mt. Pleasant Avenue Providence, RI 02908, are greatly appreciated.