2nd Lt. Donald T. Lees graduated from Hondo Army Observers School in Texas and was commissioned as an aerial observer and navigator on December 17, 1942. He left the US in May of 1943 and joined the 13th Bomb Squadron in early August 1943 at which time he was appointed squadron navigator. In March 1944, 1st Lt. Lees was transferred to HQ Squadron as Assistant Operation Officer