Major William Edward "Pop" Dolan
Duty: Commanding Officer
Dates Active: January 2, 1943 to September 6, 1945
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Born on the 4th of July 1896 in Boonton, New Jersey, William Edward Dolan shared a birthday with the nation he served, cementing a patriotic identity and lifelong call to duty.
Dolan's military career began in World War I in the Lafayette Escadrille (A French Air Force unit of American volunteers). He enlisted in the US Army Air Corps after the bombing of Pearl Harbor with the rank of Captain.
Dolan was the 384th Bomb Group's first recruit, and he was assigned to the group on January 2, 1943 per Headquarters Detachment.
Major Dolan served as an Intelligence Officer and Station Photographic Officer with the 384th Bomb Group.
The Intelligence Officer's role was to brief the men and explain the target for the day. Dolan also published the group's newspaper, the Plane News. Major Dolan even served as the group's Catholic priest until the arrival of Father Method Billy.
Major William Dolan | Courtesy of the Dolan Family
Major William Dolan at work | Courtesy of Marc Poole
Dolan flew one combat mission with the 384th as an Observer on B-17G 44-8401. He volunteered for nine other missions that did not earn him combat credit, in order to get a sense of what he was asking of his men.
While serving with the 384th, Major Dolan earned the affectionate nickname, "Pop," because of his age and fatherly devotion to the men who served with him.
That fatherly devotion was present not only within the 384th Bomb Group, but also within his own home. A week before Major Dolan left for England to serve with the 384th Bomb Group, his two step-sons, Harold and Edward Van Tassel, and their friends, age 17 at the time, got together and asked him if they ought to enlist. Dolan replied, "I can't make that decision for you, but I'm leaving for duty on Tuesday. You guys will have to make up your own minds."
That can-do spirit and love for his country made Dolan a well-respected man both at home and in the service. His two step-sons and their friends all ended up joining the US Air Force, too. Dolan also had two biological sons, Walt and Bill Dolan, who also served in the US Air Force. Bill also served in the Berlin Airlift.
Major Dolan (middle) and his two step-sons, Harold G "Harry" Van Tassel (left) and Edward J. "Ed" Van Tassel (right) | Courtesy of Quentin Bland
For his service as an Intelligence Officer, Major Dolan was awarded the Bronze Star and Legion of Merit. By the end of his time with the 384th, Dolan had risen to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
Maj. Dolan receiving the Bronze Star from Col. Dale Smith | Courtesy of Marc Poole
After the war, Dolan was a dedicated family man and businessman, and he also helped plan many of the 384th Bomb Group reunions.
Dolan passed away at the age of 89, and he lies in rest in his home state of New Jersey.
Lieutenant Colonel Pop Dolan helped "keep the show on the road," and he is not forgotten.
Information and photos courtesy of the 384th Bomb Group Association research website, 384thBombGroup.com, 8th AF News (Volume 7, Number 3), The Northwest News (Volume 1, Issue 49).
Dolan at the dedication of the original 384th Memorial | Courtesy of Quentin Bland
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