R.O. "Bill" Henley

R.O. "Bill" Henley was a B-17 navigator with the 384th Bomb Group during WWII. After flying seven combat missions, he was shot down over Hamburg and endured 21 months as a POW at Stalag Luft 3 and later, Stalag VII-A. 

Post-war, R.O. earned a degree in civil engineering from Texas A&M Univeristy, and dedicated 34 years to the Texas Department of Transportation as a civil engineer, where his expertise and dedication earned him numerous professional accolades. A testament to his skill, many of the overpasses he engineered decades ago still stand today as a permanent and central part of Texas infrastructure.

R.O. was the first former POW in Dallas to be honored with the special edition license plate, a tribute presented by his TXDOT colleagues. 

Above all, R.O.'s greatest accomplishment was the family he built, and passing down a foundation of values, integrity, and respect for those who served our country. 

In 1999, R.O. told his story publicly for the first time at his church. Today, his great-granddaughter carries on that story and his memory. 

Mikayla Leech

Mikayla Leech, great-granddaughter of R.O. Henley, is a dedicated author specializing in the history of the 384th Bomb Group and Stalag Luft 3 Prisoner of War Camp. 

She is an author for the 384th Bombardment Group Museum in England, turning historical documents and data into personal and resonating stories.

Mikayla also serves as a board member for the 384th Bomb Group Heritage Association and is the webmaster and author for the 384th BGHA website⇗. She also writes stories for their Facebook group⇗.

Her work is driven by a deep personal commitment to ensuring that the stories of World War II veterans and POWs are preserved for future generations. 

Mikayla is a steadfast advocate for veteran recognition, and it is her mission to ensure that the sacrifices made in WWII, and beyond, remain a part of our collective memory. 

View her 384th publications here.

R.O. (middle) receiving POW license plate from TXDOT coworkers